Chapter 87.
A pitch-black darkness thickly filled the hallway.
A space that had already been described countless times.
Now that it was such a familiar place, further descriptions were unnecessary.
‘Noise, that bastard…’
Somehow, the atmosphere of his words felt slightly different.
It felt as though he had casually tossed out something quite important as if it were trivial small talk.
‘What did he say earlier?’
– Please do well on attracting new customers.
Attracting customers?
…Why do I already feel uneasy?
If it’s about capturing ghosts, then just say so.
But out of nowhere, the phrase ‘attracting new customers’ has been lingering in my ears, stirring an uncomfortable feeling.
An unsettling choice of words.
Attracting customers…
‘Are they trying to throw me into another bizarre ghost story…?’
Since it’s the last Friday of the week, wouldn’t it be fine to take it a little easy?
Now that I think about it again…
I should’ve realized something was off when he told me to bring that toy ghost with the quill pen…
Oblivious fool = Park Yeon-jeong.
And here I am, foolishly accepting it again and bringing it along.
I desperately hoped the ghost story I was about to enter wasn’t an A-grade. Or worse, something beyond that…
S-grade?
……
Surely it couldn’t be S-grade.
Even the A-grade ‘Smiling Mask’ bastard was barely manageable with Noise’s help.
Unless Noise absolutely despised me to the point of wanting me dead, there was no way it’d be S-grade.
If he had any conscience, that is…
Wait, do ghosts even have consciences?
Given that, aside from the A-grade ‘I Hate the Dark’ kid, none of the A-grades I’ve faced so far had any, I knew better.
I wanted to believe he wouldn’t suddenly throw me into an S-grade death trap.
‘…Right, Noise?’
Clunk.
As the man’s heavy footsteps, tainted with unease, moved forward.
Flash.
A strong beam of light passed through my vision, illuminating the surroundings, and I realized I had arrived at the ghost story I was supposed to capture this time.
The first thing that caught my eye was.
A light?
But not the kind of ordinary lighting we’re used to.
Starting with professional studio lights, the kind you’d see on a film set, a series of broadcasting equipment came into view one after another.
Audio equipment.
Video equipment.
Mixers.
Cameras.
.
.
.
And so on.
Every single one was high-end professional gear.
Among them, the numerous cameras of various models stood out.
It was a place packed with an unusually large number of cameras.
For a moment, I wondered if Noise had mistakenly sent me to the wrong broadcasting station.
【No way! Look who’s here!】
A bright, youthful voice, unable to hide its childishness, pierced my ears.
【The famous big bro has graced our channel with his presence! What an honor!】
A small-framed child, similar in build to Soi when she was younger, approached me without hesitation.
Grab!
They seized my wrist and began dragging me somewhere.
To describe the child’s appearance.
Beyond the black hood, the only visible features were glowing yellow eyes that shimmered against the darkness.
The first thought that struck me upon seeing them was.
ghost story.
This kid… no, this thing is a ghost.
The kid continued chattering nonstop as they pulled me along.
【No need to be so tense, big bro. Just follow my lead.】
【Alright, let’s start the broadcast right away!】
Broadcast?
The moment the word ‘broadcast’ flashed through my mind.
-The broadcast has begun.
As soon as the kid sat me down on a chair, perfectly centered in the camera’s frame.
【Cue!】
With a playful voice, they loudly shouted the cue.
Swish!
!
All the cameras simultaneously began capturing my existence.
The kid nonchalantly grabbed one of the cameras and continued the broadcast.
【Thank you, ‘True Killers’ viewers, for tuning in today despite not dying!】
A broadcast… no, a livestream?
I kept staring at the kid with a thoroughly bewildered expression.
The kid smoothly delivered their lines like a seasoned pro.
【Today, we have an incredible guest on our show!】
【Who could it be? Who could it be?】
【For those who guess correctly, we’ll give out an amazing prize!】
Then, my gaze shifted to the screen directly in front of the chair.
Anonymous chat messages were rapidly flooding the screen.
ㄴ. For real? Who is it?
ㄴ. You believe that?
ㄴ. Give us a hint lol
ㄴ. Is it something big?!
ㄴ. Show us the pretty-eyed girl in the black veil from last time.
ㄴ. …Don’t tell me it’s Kim Sol.
(Temporarily blocked.)
It was exactly the livestream culture I knew.
And what appeared on the broadcast screen was a man wreathed in black flames.
Black flames?
Why does that look familiar?
Ah, who is that?
…….
…….
…….
!!
‘That’s me!’
My face was being broadcast on the screen right now.
To be precise, it was the version of me wearing a ghost guise.
This is bad.
I was way too unprepared.
The <Ghost Story Record Storagel> contains numerous ghosts that take the form of livestreamers.
But most of them are, at best, D-grade.
The agency doesn’t consider them significant threats, so they’re left largely unchecked.
However, unlike other ghost stories…
The defining trait of these livestreamer-type entities is…
A viewing culture with no barriers.
Every single one of them is designed to be accessible to ordinary viewers.
Right now, this broadcast…
Even ordinary people are watching it.
The accessibility is so high that even non-supernaturals can view it.
Which means, including the agency’s agents…
It’s highly likely that other ghosts are watching this too.
No, they’re definitely watching.
‘Right from the start, seriously!’
The moment I tried to stand up.
【Tsk tsk, big bro. So impatient. No need to fuss, I’ve already prepared everything.】
Prepared or not, I can’t afford to be caught on camera right now.
I absolutely cannot do anything that might provoke the agency’s agents. Never!
But,
That ghost brat, completely oblivious to my urgency, pointed at one of the countless comments flooding the livestream.
—
<Employee 0231>
ㄴ. Black… Flame guy?
【Ah! ‘Employee 0231’ got it right! As promised… I’ll give you the opportunity to appear on my show as a gift!】
Tap!
The smooth-talking guy snapped his fingers, and suddenly…
“……Huh? Wh-what the?”
A man in a neat suit abruptly appeared on the current set.
Anyone could tell at a glance who this person was.
A agency agent.
‘Watching streams during work hours!’
As soon as the agency guy showed up, all the cameras that had been filming me turned toward him.
And when my eyes met with that agency employee…
The stiff-faced agent quietly opened his mouth.
“…S-so, it’s really… the ‘Black Flame’ ghost…?”
Gurgle.
!
But before the Agency employee could finish speaking, his face suddenly began to swell.
Pop!
……
It burst.
Like a balloon.
On the broadcast screen, it was edited to look like party confetti scattering everywhere.
That’s how it was shown to the viewers, a fun little effect.
With that amusing edit, the man who had just stepped into the scene was quickly written off.
After that, the ghost kid continued the show as if nothing had happened.
【As ‘Employee 0231’ just mentioned, ‘Man with Black Flame ’ has joined us today as a special guest!】
【Can I finally ride the hype train of ‘Man with Black Flame ,’ the trending figure?!】
ㄴ. Who’s this nobody?
ㄴ. Is that really the ‘Man with Black Flame ’?
ㄴ. Who’s that? Is he famous?
ㄴ. Huh, weird.
ㄴ. Ugh, another tryhard.
The chat was buzzing with talk about me.
The kid seemed extremely pleased with the show’s atmosphere.
But,
I was the only one here who couldn’t join in the excitement.
The reason was simple.
That unpleasant warmth brushing against my skin.
The stench stinging my nose made me frown instinctively.
Someone just died here.
On screen, the man’s death was edited into something amusing, but in reality, a person had just died right in front of me.
The broadcast showed cheerful party confetti flying everywhere, but…
The actual scene was different.
In an instant, without even a chance to resist… the agent’s head had burst right before my eyes.
With just a snap of fingers.
The man’s blood and flesh splattered across the set, sticking to the walls and floor, still dripping sluggishly.
……D-Grade.
Did I just say most ghosts for streams are D-Grade?
‘……Damn it.’
Most stream-based ghosts have cute appearances that people would like, and the majority don’t cause physical harm, just psychological damage.
But,
Just like how regular streamers have celebrities based on popularity…
The ghost story streaming world also has its own infamous figures.
And now, I’ve ended up on the show of one of the most notorious ghosts.
‘Of all people, why did it have to be that 404 bastard?!’
———
/Ghost Story Journal
[LIVE_404_NOT_FOUND]
:Identification Code Cd-A-404
Broadcast ON – 404_LIVE begins.
———
Why, of all people?!
Out of so many others!
‘Noise, you’ve really done it this time!’
Tap!
The ghost kid no, 404 slammed the table and spoke in an even more excited voice.
【Then, sir! Please introduce yourself!】
Once again, countless cameras turned toward me.
“…….”
An A-Grade ghost.
On the same level as the Smiling Mask.
My lips wouldn’t part easily.
Was it because of that agent whose head had burst so effortlessly right in front of me?
【…Sir?】
404’s yellow glowing eyes were fixed on me.
Snap out of it.
I can’t hesitate.
I can’t let him notice.
The moment he senses my fear of death…
I’ll really die.
I’ll become the next human balloon.
I have to smile.
Like I always do.
With a fake smile on my lips, I must act naturally.
“…I’m not used to these kinds of broadcasts, so I’m a bit nervous.”
【No need to be nervous! Just relax, think of this place as your own home~】
As if it’s that easy!
I’m fuming inside.
But after that surge of emotion passed, I managed to ease my tension slightly.
My gaze shifted back to my own appearance on the broadcast, a figure wreathed in black flames.
At least that’s something to be grateful for.
‘At least my real face isn’t being shown.’
A smooth tone flowed from my lips.
“Nice to meet you, everyone.”
Steadying my voice, I kept my eyes on the broadcast screen as I spoke.
And I had to remind myself.
Even if this is a ghost…
It’s still a stream.
A normal introduction won’t cut it.
If I slip up, I’ll end up like that agent from earlier.
“Some people call me ‘Man with Black Flame .’ But I don’t mind your attention. I hope you’ll all continue to treat me comfortably.”
【Oh! You’re quite natural! Do you have any special skills or hobbies?】
It can’t be ordinary.
It has to be something that piques 404’s interest.
“Rather than a special skill… I’m currently handling product sales.”
【Oh! Product sales? What kind of products do you sell?】
So, I thought this would be the perfect answer.
Something that would catch his interest.
“ghost stories.”
【!!】
I said it.
But not as an impulsive remark to survive.
A warning to the Agency and other ghosts watching this broadcast.
They say crisis breeds opportunity, right?
For the Agency agents watching, this gives credibility to my actions so far.
It firmly imprints the idea that I have no interest in humans.
‘I hope they’ll see it that way.’
And for any ghosts watching from somewhere.
A declaration of war.
A reminder that they, too, could become my targets.
I didn’t ask for Noise’s opinion on this statement, but…
Right now, there’s no choice.
‘I’ll accept any punishment.’
I have to say this to survive here.
As long as 404’s cameras are rolling, reckless actions will lead to death.
And 404, likely realizing the huge impact of this.
【Th-the broadcast seems to be lagging, so we’ll take a short break.】
【We’ll be right back!】
Soon, the broadcast screen displayed this message:
-Broadcast has ended.
Please review this novel @ NovelUpdate.
