Chapter 9 Part 4: Cd-A-11

It’s an unexpected variable.

I quickly scanned my surroundings.

A group of cute bear keychains.

A slightly strong little kid.

A man with photophobia who is afraid of bright places.

If it’s a place where these misfits are gathered.

Maybe, just maybe, here!

As long as I don’t extinguish this last candle in front of my eyes.

There’s no one.

There isn’t a single person who can inflict physical harm on me.

Isn’t that right?

Currently, there’s probably no place that can guarantee my safety as much as this place.

In a den of ghost stories that kill people as easily as breathing, this place is truly.

A perfect save zone specialized for me!

It was a short meeting, but it was a very meaningful meeting, Mr. Announcer.

‘Let’s not meet again!’

A quick breakup notice.

Squeeze-

The ghost story kid is still holding onto my pants tightly.

…In a way, the provider of this current save zone can be attributed to this ghost story kid.

Thud.

[……?]

I gently stroked the kid’s head and smiled contentedly.

I’m relieved.

Thank goodness.

That the first ghost story I entered was this one.

There’s no reason to put out the candle anymore.

From now on, I just need to stay here and find a way to return to the original world… or so I thought.

Gurgle!

Our young man, who clearly shows that he’s not happy with my choice.

【…………………What is going on?】

I was prepared for it, to some extent.

【Was the script delivered incorrectly?】

【Or. Was the role played by a ‘fool’ who doesn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘poetic justice’?】

【If so. It seems that an expression suitable for the level of the role is needed.】

[…..Turn off the damn light! You stupid f*cker!!]

…I’m. I’m okay, right?

The barrage of words I’ve never heard before in my life clearly hit my ears.

I couldn’t understand what he was saying so vehemently.

But it was definitely a curse.

That’s for sure.

[F*ck!]

The Shadow Man shows more hostility towards me than I expected. Of course, it’s not something I, the cause, should say.

But for now, bluffing is the answer.

If I put out this light and go back to the library, the announcer will obviously put me in another ghost story.

No, it’s 100%.

There’s no guarantee that the next ghost story will be as lucky as this one.

So I………….

‘As if I’d give up such a sweet spot!’

Swish.

[!!!]

As if rebelling against his words. I turned my head.

A blatant refusal.

The Shadow Man seemed to be at a loss for words at my attitude.

And in the direction I turned my head, I met the eyes of the ghost story kid who was staring at me.

Stare –

Unlike the expression that was crying and fussing just a moment ago, the pupils were enlarged as if witnessing a strange sight.

[· · · · · · . ]

I wish you’d stop staring.

It’s not a feeling of being burdened.

‘You’re scary too.’

Since this kid is also a ghost story.

The aura felt from the eyes was different.

This situation itself, where the kid who was crying like a child until just now is staring at me as if possessed by something, was more suffocating than I could have imagined.

But the ghost story kid, not paying any attention to Park Yeon-jung’s feelings.

Let go of the pants he had been holding onto.

And started picking something up from the floor.

Rustle, rustle.

『Mister. No turn off light. No turn off light person… good person.』

Mister…………… a good person, huh. Let’s just go with it. Since there’s nothing I can do anyway.

More than that, what is he picking up so diligently? I stretched my neck and looked down.

The ghost story kid was putting the bear dolls lying on the floor into his arms one by one.

Why that all of a sudden?

A question flashed through my head.

Suddenly!

The ghost story kid suddenly got up from his crouching position.

And held out a living bear doll, the so-called ‘little friends’, to me.

『Mister. Good person. Present!』

Present?

?!?!

These bear dolls now?

No, more than that.

These guys, they’re ghost stories, you know?

These guys fluttering in the ghost story kid’s arms are a present?

“

Thank you.”

No thanks.

I unconsciously said thank you.

But I don’t need it.

I don’t even want it.

Weren’t we taught from childhood not to accept things from strangers?

So I won’t accept it.

“But I’ll just take the thought-“

Push!

Suddenly, before I could finish my sentence, a small fist flowed into my palm.

『Present. Take.』

Was it up to the giver?

Before I knew it, in the place where the small fist had passed.

Three bear dolls were waving their cotton arms amiably and looking at me on my palm.

I received it………

Well, it can’t be helped.

Yeah. As long as they don’t kick me out of here, I’m fine with that…

『Time late.』

『Good person. Must go back.』

What?

『Play again next time. Good person.』

Go back?

I repeated the self-rationalization of ‘it can’t be’, but at the same time, I felt the lengthening of the candlelight flickering behind my back, and the gaze of someone else felt through my shadow.

【It’s a shame. It’s a shame…………I’ll see you on the next stage.】

The voice that had been roughly spewing curses until now returned to a calm tone only at the end.

【The stage. I’ll end it now.】

The pitch-black darkness that came with the words to end the stage.

And when the light returned.

Thud!

Familiar LED lighting.

[…Huh? Oh, who is this! Employee Park Yeon-jung, you’re back!!]

Entered my ears.

The crackling, old-fashioned sound quality.

Ah…………….

“I…?”

I’m back.

Crackle-

F*ck.

[Employee Park Yeon-jung. The time you were away was, for me…like time had stopped.]

Thud!

A light turned on above Park Yeon-jung.

[Ah…………To be able to see Employee Park Yeon-jung’s face again. Just this one fact is enough for me……………I don’t want anything else in this world.]

Crackle-

The crackling noise that brushed past my ears subsided, and again a low voice tickled my ears.

[Welcome back………Employee Park Yeon-jung.]

Yeah, I’m back.

To this damn place.

I’ve…………come back again.

‘That kid…doing something I didn’t ask for!’

Crackle-

[…………How was it! While Employee Park Yeon-jung was away for a while. I recited the lines of the most famous drama these days.]

[That part just now is said to be the part that has received a lot of praise from many people. Did you feel a little moved?]

Suddenly?

More than that…………moved?

I was moved.

So much that tears welled up.

I’m so moved to tears by the current situation of meeting you, Mr. Announcer, again.

If I had known I would come back like this.

I should have just blown out that last candle!

‘Just you wait.’

Ghost story kid. I won’t let you off the hook next time!

Park Yeon-jung vowed that if he met the ghost story kid again, he would put out the candle with all his might.

Of course.

If I survive until then

Blocked by the wall of reality, wondering if there will be a next time for me.

Park Yeon-jung’s vision blurred with tears again.

Crackle-

But whether Park Yeon-jung was sad or not.

Mr. Announcer quickly got to the point.

That is, work performance.

[Then, shall we check Employee Park Yeon-jung’s first work performance!]

!!!

I had forgotten.

In the shock of returning to this damn place, I had forgotten the fundamental reason why I entered the [I Hate the Dark!] ghost story.

-Ghost story capture.

I swallowed hard.

Cold sweat ran down my cheeks.

Suddenly, the images of the people who died in the library flashed through my mind.

What happens to an employee who fails to perform in their first job?

They die.’

It’s not a guess. It’s a solid fact based on solid statistics.

Ghost stories are fundamentally an impatient group.

Just look at the [I Hate the Dark!] ghost story.

If you don’t put out all the candles at the time of entry.

You’re out.

Not a simple concept of elimination like in a game.

Out of the rest of your life.

Crackle-

Startle.

Every time this crackling noise brushes past my ears.

It feels like my heart will explode.

[Since it’s Employee Park Yeon-jung’s first job. Let’s check it together.]

Thud!

The lights turned off and on again, repeatedly.

In the place where the lights turned on again, an object that I had never seen before appeared.

A CRT TV?

The appearance of an old relic that is no longer found in this day and age.

A dusty appearance that doesn’t seem to work properly and scratches that can be seen everywhere.

Crackle-

But unlike that appearance. With sparkling light particles.

The video began to be broadcast.

I have no idea what kind of video will be shown on the CRT, but soon a phrase that fills the entire screen appeared.

<Employee Park Yeon-jung’s work vlog day 1.>

……?

My vlog, which I don’t remember filming, starts to be broadcast on the CRT.

The introduction of the video starts with a grand sneeze that burst out as I entered the mansion.

Along with the scene where the candle is extinguished.

From the embarrassing scene of being chased by the ‘little friends’, the bear doll guys.

To the fierce? chase scene with the ghost story kid.

-Intense background music.

In the end, my vlog, which even included a very dignified appearance of not putting out the remaining candle in front of my eyes.

<See you again in the next video!>

In the last outro of the video, old-fashioned fonts and cheerful music played, and the video ended.

It was all recorded.

The scene where I…………intentionally didn’t put out the candle at the end.

It was all recorded so vividly in the video.

Gulp.

[So that’s what happened.]

The announcement didn’t mix much emotional expression after watching the video.

Just the usual, normal tone of voice and a suffocating silence as if briefly lost in thought.

Not long after.

When his voice came from the speaker again.

“I, I’m sorry….

[It’s really great!]

What?”

[It seems that it was a good decision to entrust this task to Employee Park Yeon-jung, the talent of our company!]

I unintentionally blurted out a question.

Despite acting against the task of capturing the ghost story, what came back was a word of praise from the boss.

‘Just, get angry.’

In the current situation, a word of praise was scarier than anything else.

Unlike Park Yeon-jung, who is fighting an unknown fear.

The performance evaluation continued.

Crackle-

[Of course, not securing the original target item. It can be said to be a definite ‘deduction’.]

[But……, Employee Park Yeon-jung, you made an ‘investor’ that is as important as securing the item! This can also be said to be a great achievement.]

An investor?”

That ghost story kid?

[Yes! I don’t know if you know, but that child’s parents also have considerable authority!]

Crackle-

[Originally, I was thinking of holding the child hostage and ■ and getting what?, ▮…but maintaining a business relationship with them is not a bad option either!]

Um.

I feel an unpleasant feeling as if I heard something I shouldn’t have…………,

But I don’t want to die, so I’ll pass.

Let’s not dig into it.

[But I never expected that he would even give Employee Park Yeon-jung ‘that gift’.]

[Could it be that Employee Park Yeon-jung has a charm that attracts ghost stories, that I don’t know about?]

Charm is definitely a good thing. But if that charm is limited to ghost stories.

I don’t need it.

I don’t want it even if you give it to me.

I want to live my whole life without charm.

Wriggle.

Huh?

A movement felt inside the palm of my clenched fist. And I suddenly remembered about the beings I had forgotten.

‘…Ah! That’s right.’

As soon as I opened my clenched palm.

The bear doll group raising their crumpled bodies.

The ‘little friends’ that I was forced to receive from the ghost story kid.

Mr. Announcer also seemed to have confirmed the bear dolls on my palm.

A group of white gloves began to wander around.

[Hmm…so this is his ‘gift’.]

[They’re called ‘little friends’, right? Judging by their condition…they seem to be items that are good enough to sell right away.]

!!

Pitter-patter!

At the announcement’s words about selling them, the little friends showed a desperate look as they tried to hide in my sleeves.

Are you really thinking of selling them?”

It wasn’t compassion.

Well, they’re cute guys, so it would be a little sad if they were sold.

The word that a ghost story sells a ghost story is an unprecedented form that I haven’t even seen on the wiki site.

It was pure curiosity.

I looked at it from a perspective of curiosity.

[Since it’s ‘his’ item. I believe there will be many people looking for it………but if we really sell it, Employee Park Yeon-jung’s position might become a little awkward………………]

[Let’s stop, after all.]

It was an unexpected answer.

[We can’t sell the big-name relationship we’ve barely formed for a few pennies.]

Mr. Announcer’s words were as if……

He was being considerate of me.

While my emotions were shaken by his words.

Swoosh.

The white gloves that were still hovering around my body showed that they had not given up on the little friends.

Hey, Mr. Announcer.

It seems like your body and mind are acting separately?

Thud!

This time, the lights went out without a word.

Thud!

When the lights came back on.

The CRT and the numerous white gloves that were in front of me had disappeared.

[Anyway, you did a great job today, Employee Park Yeon-jung. Additional compensation for today’s work will also be deposited.]

Yes, I did a great job.

So.

‘Please let me go.’

It was a heartfelt.

Single sentence.

[Since you successfully completed your first task today. You can go home now.]

What?

What did you just say?

I’m not mishearing, am I?

[See you again tomorrow, Employee Park Yeon-jung. Have a good night.]

Thud!

The lights went out.

And that day. The lights never came back on.