Chapter 9 – Cd-A-11(4)
It’s an unexpected variable.
I quickly scanned my surroundings.
A group of cute bear doll keyrings.
A slightly strong kid.
A man with photophobia who fears bright places.
If this is where the ragtag bunch has gathered.
Maybe if it’s here!
Unless I extinguish this last candle before me.
…There isn’t.
Not a single person could physically harm me.
“…There isn’t anyone, right?”
There probably isn’t any other place that could guarantee my safety as much as this place right now.
In this den of ghosts that kill people as easily as breathing, such a place is truly.
A perfect safe zone specialized for me!
Though it was a brief encounter, it was truly meaningful, Mr. Broadcasting System.
‘Let’s never meet again!’
A quick farewell notice.
Kwaaaak-
The little ghost kid is still firmly holding onto my pant leg.
…In a way, this ghost kid could be called the provider of the current safe zone.
Pat.
『……?』
I gently patted the kid’s head while wearing a satisfied smile.
Thank goodness.
Thank heavens.
That was the first ghost story I entered.
There’s no more reason to extinguish the candle.
From now on, I just need to stay put here and find a way to return to the original world…
However,
Boom!
Our young man who’s giving off an atmosphere of strong disapproval towards my choice.
【…What could this be?】
I was prepared for this, to some extent.
Was the script delivered incorrectly?
【Or perhaps. Was the role an ‘idiot’ who doesn’t understand the meaning of ‘poetic justice’?】
【In that case. It seems an expression fitting the role’s level is needed.】
【…Put out the light right now! You stupid bastard!!】
…Am I really okay with this?
【■&■ @■ ■■#■■!!】
The barrage of an unknown language I’ve never heard before rings clearly in my ears.
I couldn’t understand what intense words were being spewed out.
But they were clearly curse words.
【■fuck!■fuck!■fuck!■fuck!■fuck!■fuck!】
…This one’s obvious.
The shadow man showed more hostility toward me than expected. Though I’m the cause, I shouldn’t be the one to say this.
Right now, being gutsy is the answer.
If I extinguish this light and return to the library, that broadcasting system will definitely put me in another ghost story.
No, it’s 100% certain.
There’s no guarantee the next ghost story will be as fortunate as this one.
So I…
‘Won’t give up such a sweet spot!’
Swoosh.
【!!】
As if defying his words. I turned my head.
An obvious sign of refusal.
The shadow man seemed at a loss for words at my attitude.
And in the direction I turned, my eyes met with the ghost kid who was staring intently at me.
Stare-
Unlike the crying face from just moments ago, his pupils were dilated as if witnessing something fascinating.
“……”
『……』
…I wish he would stop staring.
It’s not a feeling of burden.
‘You’re scary too.’
After all, this kid is also a ghost.
The aura felt from his eyes was different.
The situation itself was breathtakingly tense, with the kid who was crying like a child just
moments ago now staring at me as if possessed by something.
But the ghost kid, not caring at all about Park Yeon-jeong’s feelings.
After letting go of the pant leg he had been holding onto, he started picking up something from the floor.
Gather,gather.
[Mister. No put out fire. Person who doesn’t put out fire… not a good person.]
[Mis…ter… good person, he says. ]
Let’s just let that slide.
It’s not like I can do anything about it anyway.
More importantly, what is he picking up? As I stretched my neck and looked down.
The ghost kid was picking up the bear dolls rolling on the floor one by one and putting them in his arms.
What is this suddenly?
A question brushing through my mind.
Suddenly!
The little ghost story child suddenly stands up from where they were crouching. They hold out to me a living teddy bear doll, collectively known as ‘little friends’.
[Mister. Good person. Gift!]
…………?!?!
A gift?
This teddy bear doll right now?
No, more than that.
These are ghosts, aren’t they?
These creatures fluttering in the little ghost story child’s arms are a gift?
“………Thank you.”
I hate it.
The word of gratitude unconsciously slipped out.
I don’t need it.
I don’t want to have it.
Wasn’t I educated since childhood to not accept things from strangers?
So I won’t accept it.
“But just receiving the heart…”
Swoosh!
Suddenly, before my words could finish, a small fist flew into my palm.
[Gift. Take it.]
……Was it up to the giver?
Where the small fist had passed,
Three teddy bear dolls now sit on my palm, waving their soft arms at me.
What I received…..
For now, I have no choice.
Yes. As long as they don’t chase me out from here, I’m fine…..
[Time is late.]
[Good person. Must go back.]
What?
[Let’s play again next time. Good person.]
Must go back?
While rationalizing to myself ‘No, that can’t be’, and feeling another’s gaze between my shadow and the swaying candlelight behind me.
【How unfortunate. So unfortunate… I’ll see you at the next stage.】
The voice that had been spewing harsh swear words until now, finally returned to a gentle tone at the end.
【I’ll end the stage here.】
With the words of ending the stage came pitch-black darkness.
And when the light returned again.
Tap!
Familiar LED lighting.
[…Huh? Oh my, who is this! Employee Park Yeon-jeong has returned!!]
Noise-mixed, old-fashioned audio quality entering through my ear.
Ah…….
“I…”
I’ve returned.
…..Damn.
*****
Crackle-
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong. The time you were gone was… a standstill for me.]
Tap!
A light turns on above Park Yeon-jeong.
“…….”
[Ah… being able to see Employee Park Yeon-jeong’s face like this again. With just this fact
alone, I… have nothing more to desire in this world.]
Crackle-
As the noise brushing past my ear subsides, a low voice tickles my ear again.
[Welcome back… Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
“……….”
Yes, I’ve returned.
To this damn place.
I’ve returned again.
‘That little kid… doing things not even asked!’
Crackle-
[……How was it! While Employee Park Yeon-jeong was away, I recited the currently most famous drama lines.]
[They say the part I just read was praised by many. Were you slightly moved?]
Suddenly?
More than that… moved?
Well, I was moved.
Tears nearly welling up.
Reuniting with the announcement voice, tears completely obstruct my view of the current situation.
If I had known I’d return like this.
I should’ve just extinguished the last candle completely!
‘Just you wait.’
Little ghost story kid. Next time, I absolutely won’t let you off!
Park Yeon-jeong swore that if he met the little ghost story kid again, he would extinguish the candle with all his heart.
…Of course.
If I survive until then…….
Blocked by the wall of reality, wondering if I’ll have a next time, Park Yeon-jeong’s vision blurs with tears again.
Crackle-
But whether Park Yeon-jeong is sad or not, the announcement voice quickly gets to the main point.
Namely, work performance.
[Then, let’s check Employee Park Yeon-jeong’s first work performance!]
!!!
I had forgotten.
The fundamental reason why I entered the [I Hate the Dark!] ghost story, forgotten amidst the shock of returning to this damn place.
-Ghost capture.
“…….”
I swallowed hard.
Cold sweat trickles down my cheek.
Momentarily, the images of people who died in the library flash quickly through my mind.
What happens to an employee who fails to produce results on their first task?
‘……They die.’
This isn’t a mere guess. It’s a certain fact based on clear statistics.
These ghost things are fundamentally an impatient group.
Just look at the [I Hate the Dark!] ghost from earlier.
If you can’t extinguish all candles upon entering,
You’re out.
Not a simple game-like elimination concept.
Out from the rest of your life.
Crackle-
Startled.
Every time this noise brushes past my ear, my heart feels like it’s about to burst.
[Since this is Employee Park Yeon-jeong’s first task. Let’s confirm it together.]
Tap!
The lighting repeatedly turns off and on.
In the place where the light turns on again, an object I’ve never seen before appears.
…..A cathode ray tube TV?
A relic from the past, rarely seen in today’s era.
Dusty exterior that seems like it won’t work properly, with visible scratches visible even from sideways glances.
Crackle-
But contrary to that exterior. With sparkling light particles.
The video began to be transmitted.
While having no idea what kind of video would appear beyond the cathode ray tube, soon a single phrase appeared filling the entire screen.
<Employee Park Yeon-jeong’s Work Vlog, Day 1.>
…What?
My vlog, which I don’t remember filming, began to be transmitted beyond the cathode ray tube.
The video’s introduction started with a grand sneeze while entering a mansion.
Starting from the scene where the candle goes out.
From the disgraceful scene being chased by the ‘little friends’, the teddy bear dolls.
Too intense? Chase scene with the ghost kid.
-Urgent BGM.
My vlog captured everything, including the final scene where I boldly did not extinguish the remaining candle right before my eyes.
<See you in the next video!>
With an old-fashioned font in the video’s final outro, cheerful music played and the video ended.
“…”
It was all recorded.
My scene of intentionally not extinguishing the candle at the end was captured so blatantly in the video.
…Gulp.
[It has come to this.]
The announcement broadcast did not mix in much emotional expression after watching the video.
Just, with a typical casual tone and a breathless silence as if lost in thought.
Not long after.
When the voice flowed through the speaker again.
“I’m sor, sorry…”
[Truly impressive!]
“…Yes?
[As expected, it seems we did well to assign this task to Park Yeon-jeong, a talent of our company!]
An involuntary question burst out of my vocal cords.
Despite actions contrary to the task of capturing a ghost, what returned was a single word of praise from my superior.
‘Just, get angry.’
In the current situation, a word of praise was more frightening than anything else.
Unlike Park Yeon-jeong fighting an unknown fear, the work evaluation continued.
Crackle-
[Of course, not securing the originally intended item is definitely a ‘deduction’ factor.]
[But…, Employee Park Yeon-jeong has created an ‘investor’ as important as securing the item! We can also say this is a significant achievement.]
“…An investor?”
That ghost kid?
[Yes! I don’t know if you’re aware, but the parents of that individual also have considerable authority!]
Crackle-
[Well, the original plan was to capture the child and ■■■ and receive ■■■■, but… maintaining a business relationship with them isn’t such a bad option!]
…Hmm.
I feel an unpleasant feeling as if I’ve heard something I shouldn’t have…
I don’t want to die, so I’ll pass.
I won’t dig deeper.
[But surely. I never thought they would give that ‘gift’ to Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
[Could it be that Employee Park Yeon-jeong has a charm that I don’t know about, that draws in the ghost folk?]
The words about having charm are certainly well-intentioned. But if that charm is limited to ghosts.
I don’t need it.
I won’t accept it even if given.
I want to live my entire life without charm.
Wriggle.
Oh?
A movement felt inside the palm where I’m clenching my fist. And suddenly I remembered those forgotten beings.
‘…Ah! Right.’
As soon as I opened my tightly clenched palm. The crumpled teddy bear group rises.
The ‘little friends’ forcibly received from the ghost kid.
The announcement broadcast person seemed to have confirmed the teddy bears on my palm as well. A group of white gloves began to drift around.
[Hmm… Is this the ‘gift’ from that person?]
[‘Little friends’ is what they’re called, right? Looking at their condition… they seem sellable right now.]
!!
Hurry hurry hurry hurry hurry!
At the announcement broadcast’s words about selling them off, the little friends tried to hide themselves between the folds of my sleeve.
“…Are you really planning to sell?”
It wasn’t sympathy.
Well, since they’re cute guys, I might feel a bit sad if they’re sold.
Selling a ghost by a ghost is an unprecedented form even on wiki sites.
It was pure curiosity. A perspective of wonder.
[Considering they’re ‘that person’s’ items, I believe many would be looking for them… but if I
really sell them, Employee Park Yeon-jeong might be in a bit of a difficult position…]
[As expected, let’s stop.]
An unexpected response.
[We can’t sell off the barely formed relationship with a big shot for a few pennies.]
The announcement broadcast’s words were like…
A tone that seemed to consider me.
While my unknown emotions were being stirred by his words.
Swoosh.
The white gloves still circling around my body showed no intention of letting go of the little friends.
It was visible.
Hey, announcement broadcaster.
It feels like my body and mind are working separately.
Tak!
This time, the lights went out silently.
Tak!
When the lights came back on again.
The brown screen and numerous white gloves in front of my eyes had disappeared.
[Anyway, you’ve worked hard today, Employee Park Yeon-jeong. Additional compensation for today’s work will also be deposited.]
Yes, you’ve worked very hard.
So.
‘Please just let me go.’
A sincere, single word.
[Since you’ve successfully completed your first task today. You may go home now.]
…Huh?
What did you just say?
I’m not mishearing you, am I?
[See you tomorrow, Employee Park Yeon-jeong. Have a good night.]
Tak!
The lights went out.
And that day, those lights never turned on again.
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