Backstage is a flurry of activity just before a live talk show begins.
The silent staff members move in perfect order, checking the situation in real-time and dealing with issues.
“Phew.”
I let out a long breath.
By now, I could more or less understand their expressions in detail….
The whispers of the faceless ones.
-Add lighting #5.
-Host’s shoes need replacement.
-Check the position of the guest’s cushion.
Everyone works hard at their respective stations, pondering how to create a good show.
And because the Host is the type to not spare any praise for individuals, the atmosphere heightened even more easily.
It really was a decent workplace. The fact that my colleagues had no faces was a bit unsettling at first, but now it seemed I had completely adapted!
‘I guess humans really are creatures of environment.’
Entering the darkness was something I could never get used to no matter how many times I did it, so perhaps, just as Braun said, it might have been
an issue of aptitude.
‘It’s okay.’
After habitually checking that I was wearing my silver ring, I finally stepped onto the stage.
“…Hoo.”
Today was the day.
The day I would appear in a segment of ‘Braun’s Late-Night Talk Show’ for the first time.
[Soleum!]
The Host, who had already finished his preparations, approached.
[The outfit suits you very well. Yes… oh my! Makeup, let’s cover this tattoo here more properly.]
The Host meticulously checked even the tattoo revealed beneath the sleeve of my suit near my wrist.
In an instant, the tattoo on my wrist was erased without a trace.
And I safely went to my designated seat and sat down before the live broadcast began.
[Very good. Good… now. Soleum. The camera light will turn on soon.]
“Yes.”
[And the audience will be seated immediately, so all you have to think about is entertaining them. Now, we’re starting….]
The countdown begins on the classic prompter in front of me.
3.
4. 5. 6.
[Good evening! The joy of this night, a new face to meet every day, and… your friendly Host!]
Braun’s Late-Night Talk Show
The moment the studio sparkled along with the band sound.
The live broadcast began.
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
“Wha-what is this….”
The audience seats fill up.
The audience members, who were suddenly sitting there, look terrified or startled by the dazzling film set that appeared while they were preparing for bed.
“Why am I dressed like this?”
Seeing them all sitting there in various work clothes, it truly felt like an office worker special.
[Welcome, hardworking office workers. Today, for your sake, we will show you an interesting, spine-tinglingly fun talk show that will melt away the day’s fatigue and keep your eyes glued to the screen!]
Clap clap clap….
The Host claps alone, then displays a sheepish and sad emoticon on his TV head.
[…Is there no applause? None at all?]
Clap, clap-clap-clap-clap!!
The audience sends applause in a daze.
“What on earth is this….”
“Well, he’s handsome at least. Let’s just do it.”
Two office workers who seemed to be acquaintances whispered to each other next to me and started clapping again.
The Host led the atmosphere, greeting the audience members one by one.
There was something eerie about it, but fundamentally, there were funny and enjoyable jokes and horrific, strange news I had never heard before.
“Ah.”
Soon the tension eased, and people naturally accepted the surreal space.
As if watching a magician or a sci-fi movie, the hearts of people familiar with unrealistic content blurred as the boundary with reality collapsed.
And then, the entry.
[Today’s guest is… ah, here they come now!]
The ornate doors, studded with star-shaped light bulbs, opened, and the guest stepped out.
It was the guest I had selected!
Namely….
Toddle, toddle.
It was a stuffed cloth bear.
It had mismatched button eyes and was tattered, but it was quite cute.
[Isn’t it quite cute? Allow me to introduce today’s guest… ‘Happy Ending Teddy’!]
Exclamations erupt from here and there as the small teddy bear sits on the sofa.
What is that? It’s really cute. It’s moving. Where is this? Is it a dream? What kind of talk show is this… Ah, I remember applying to be in the audience for this!
The dizzying murmurs soon died down and converged into one.
Interest and focus on the surreally proceeding talk show.
[This was sponsored by Delusion Home Shopping. Oh, it’s a 1999 limited edition product that is no longer for sale, and the most iconic companion doll in the industry.]
[To an owner who cherishes it until death, it creates an ‘ending of life’ like a peaceful sleep, but for those who discard it, it visits them in the middle of the night and turns them into a doll just like itself!]
Braun approached and held the microphone to the Teddy Bear.
[How do you feel? ……Oh, it says it feels so nervous it wants to visit its first owner’s grave and wail.]
“Uh-hahaha!”
The reaction is good.
My mind was at ease.
It was cute and friendly, but the creepiness of a non-living inorganic object having a sense of self, moving, and taking revenge was a classic hit.
That’s why I also had a Good Friend… No, stop.
‘Anyway, if the audience reaction is good, the viewer reaction is often good as well.’
It was a relief.
The talk show is structured so that the non-human viewers can enjoy the audience reaction itself, as if watching a reaction video.
Interesting. As expected, stories are enjoyable and reassuring when you are one step removed!
[Well then, let’s hear our guest’s story and recent news!]
The show proceeded smoothly.
‘Happy Ending Teddy’ spoke through the Host about the heart-wrenching but warm parting with its kind owner, and the blood-chilling abuse and refreshing revenge against a terrible owner.
And it heightened the immersion and atmosphere by showing props, photos, and drawings from that time.
The final climax.
[Ah, so the father who put out cigarettes on you and beat the child you played with… is in that audience right now!]
[That person…… is you!]
Bam!
A spotlight shines on an audience member.
[Please come up… Hahaha! Let’s welcome our second guest with a round of applause.]
It was the previous owner who had discarded the doll, planted among the audience.
The process of inviting them onto the stage and ‘Happy Ending Teddy’ personally turning that audience member into a teddy bear was even demonstrated.
Screams and blood were rampant, but the immersed audience members were both slightly horrified and gratified. People in the front row, who had even received raincoats from the staff, even clapped.
As if reading an interesting ghost story.
[Ah, wonderful. We have one more cute teddy bear.]
[Truly a great thing. Please give a big round of applause for our guest, Happy Ending Teddy, who even creates excellent added value!]
Woooooo!
Happy Ending Teddy trembled as it greeted the people happily.
And at this point….
[Then let’s move on to the next segment. Q&A!]
Braun raised one hand to his speaker part as if listening.
[Are you there? My friend!]
Now!
“I’m here. Friend!”
I raised my hand high and stood up from the middle of the audience seats.
Exclamations erupted from the people sitting around me.
And the glowing sign above my head.
To Braun’s friend,
Please tell us!
[For 100 seconds, my friend can ask the audience for their impressions of the talk show or ask fun questions! We’ll give wonderful prizes to those who answer properly, so let’s give it a try. Now….]
A clock appeared on Braun’s TV face.
[Starting now!]
Rumble.
Audience members raised their hands.
I pointed at myself with a slightly flustered expression.
“Um, are you all raising your hands without even listening to my introduction or the question…?”
Laughter.
“Ah, you’re saying there’s no time? All… ri… ght… theeeeen.”
I intentionally started speaking by dragging my words out incredibly slowly.
The laughter grew louder. Good.
“First question. ‘What was the most boring moment in this show?’”
[Friend!!]
“The moment where you couldn't stop yawning and thought it would have been better if I did it instead?!”
At the perfectly timed, planned reaction, intermittent laughter erupted among the audience again.
Some of the people in the front who were covered in the blood of the previous owner who became a teddy bear waved their raincoats even more enthusiastically.
I quickly approached those people and held out the microphone.
“Right now.”
[Ooh!]
Laughter erupted again. I intentionally looked at the person with a face full of betrayal, wondering how they could say such a thing, then moved on to the next question.
Perhaps because the previous segment was fun, the people’s reaction was much better than my worries.
It was almost bewitching.
‘Is it… fun?’
Somehow, I felt a bit excited.
The 100 seconds flew by in an instant, and it was the moment the microphone passed to an audience member who was almost the last in line.
“If you could ask for just one thing from this talk show, what would it be?”
To the question I shouted excitedly, the audience member shouted back excitedly.
“I want to take that teddy bear!”
Ah.
“You can’t.”
…….
In an instant, the audience went cold.
Even on the stage.
“…….”
Wh-why did I do that? No, first, I have to fix this.
I arched my eyebrows as if I had answered curtly on purpose.
Then I nodded as if I understood and said.
“Our dear guest, Teddy, says he doesn't want a serious relationship with an office worker who has no time because they're busy with overtime.”
“What?!”
Happy Ending Teddy hurriedly waved its arms from the sofa as if that wasn't the case. Seeing that, I nodded seriously and conveyed it to the audience member.
“He says he really doesn't want to.”
“…?!”
The teddy bear fell over. Laughter erupted from the audience.
“Just kidding. He says he’d be happy to go.”
“Wow! I love it. Dying of natural causes was my dream.”
“Really? Me too.”
I laughed and gave the audience member a high-five.
Phew. Somehow I managed to get through it.
‘Next!’
And I quickly turned my head for the next question. The next person who raised their hand the fastest….
Had a familiar appearance.
“…!!”
For a moment, I looked at that figure blankly.
An office worker wearing a mask and a suit.
‘…It’s the Field Exploration team from Daydream Inc.’
The workplace I used to attend.
And among them….
‘…It’s the people from D-Team.’
The three people I knew were sitting side by side.
How could those three, no, surely now only Section Chief Lizard is in D-Team, so how on earth….
[Ding! Time is up.]
Ah.
[Now! Let’s ask our friend. Who is today’s MVP audience member?]
“Today’s MVP is….”
I pointed to the last audience member.
“The guest adoption applicant.”
“Ooh!”
[Hahaha! I hope you die a happy, natural death!]
The selected audience member sat back down happily while receiving a beautifully wrapped gift.
Happy Ending Teddy was staring intently at that audience member.
“…….”
With that, my segment concluded, and I exited through the door to the applause of the audience.
My heart was thumping.
‘I did it.’
And around then.
[Let me introduce the next guest. Ah, wait, before that….]
[We’ll be right back after a commercial break!]
Aaaaagh!
Braun waved to the booing and cheering audience as the mid-roll commercial break began.
Phew!
[Soleum!]
Braun came backstage with a giant smiling emoticon filling his face, then swapped to a moved emoticon and gave me a high-five.
And then he patted my shoulder as if he were proud.
[Friend. You did very well! It was an excellence hard to believe for a first-time host. It was a very impressive 100 seconds. Ah, I’m truly admiring….]
“I don't think it was that much….”
[No! This is pure admiration, neither lip service nor flattery. Now that you’ve started to have passion for this show, you’re producing even better results.]
It was a happy thing.
“Um, but.”
I said with a smile.
“…I saw some familiar faces in the audience. Could I go have a short talk with them? Just for a moment during the break. Not long…….”
[Ah.]
The Host stopped.
And….
[Of course. Isn’t it a break? Feel free to go and talk.]
Phew.
I got permission! Thank goodness.
“Then I’ll be goi….”
[Wait.]
He grabbed my shoulder.
[However, you must not make any remarks that would make other audience members feel a sense of incongruity…. Oh, don’t forget. Even if the cameras are off, the audience still sees you as a cast member of the show.]
“…I understand.”
The TV head drew closer.
[You’ve kept that in mind?]
“…I’ll keep it in mind.”
[Very good!]
I stepped backward, moving away from the Host.
Then I stepped down from the stage and went around giving thanks while accompanied by staff, as if checking if the audience had any inconveniences.
Then… I finally arrived at the spot where the familiar masks were gathered.
The masks I knew.
“Roe…?”
“…Assistant Manager.”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon, Assistant Manager Eun Haje, and… even Supervisor Park Minseong were sitting there.
‘Wow.’
Being like this felt strange.
Because they looked just like they did before entering the Hungry Hangman Darkness.
“To think I’d see you here! It’s good to see you. Is everyone doing well?”
Section Chief Lizard and Assistant Manager Eun Haje nodded.
Supervisor Park Minseong also waved with a smiling face when our eyes met. He looked a bit pale, but he still looked healthy.
Had he gotten much better, allowing him to comfortably do outdoor activities on nights like this? It was a huge relief.
“Yeah. We’re doing well… Roe. Are you okay? How have you been?”
“Ah. I’ve been doing well.”
I could guarantee that.
However, I eventually couldn't help but ask.
“But today was my first appearance… I was wondering if I could ask how it was. I’m a bit nervous.”
Silence.
“It was very good.”
“…Thank you.”
Phew.
The silence was a bit concerning, but Assistant Manager Eun Haje isn't the type to give empty words, so it should be fine.
“Speaking of which, have you eaten today?”
“Eaten? Ea…….”
Ah.
Come to think of it, it seems like quite a bit of time has passed since I last ate.
So… before I prepared for the broadcast?
Was the last thing I ate on the train before moving to this job? It was something like that.
Anyway, my body is perfectly healthy, so it’s fine!
And it was a bit too personal a story to tell during a talk show break.
I waved my hand with a smile.
“It’s okay if I don't.”
“…….”
Supervisor Park Minseong quickly rummaged through his pocket and pulled something out.
“Roe. Still. It’s a break right now, isn't it? Why don’t you have a snack at least? This….”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m told that receiving gifts from audience members is only possible through official channels. It’s for transparent operation.”
I politely declined the old-fashioned candy Supervisor Park Minseong was holding out.
The expression of the Supervisor holding the Nostalgia Candy clouded over.
“Ah….”
…Did I do something wrong?
I thought hard and then came up with an alternative.
“Don’t worry. I have a candy exactly like that among the ones I have, so I’ll eat that one.”
“…!”
“Right.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje reached out and shook my hand.
Her hand was hot.
“Make sure you eat it.”
“…….”
“Mr. Roe Deer.”
Ah.
Section Chief Lizard was looking at me.
“Press the button.”
“……?”
I don't quite… know what he means by that.
But showing that I was flustered would be unprofessional.
“Yes. I will definitely do my best. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the show. Sleep well and hwaiting for tomorrow too.”
I hoped today’s attendance would be a small joy in their difficult daily lives.
Is this the heart of a show creator? The one Braun was talking about?
I observed the three people’s reactions.
‘Maybe it’s because they’re wearing masks, but I can’t really see their expressions….’
Wait a minute.
If they’re wearing masks, could they be in the middle of a darkness investigation right now?
If so, let’s reassure them!
“Ah. If you’re in here for ‘work’, there won’t be any problems. You can just enjoy the show happily and then go back.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes! It’s very safe here.”
There would be few instances of darkness as easy to clear as this. In fact, hadn't it become even easier than during the Tuesday Talk Show?
‘Because none of the general audience members die!’
In fact, if we wanted to go more provocative, we could have given more horrific penalties like in the Tuesday Talk Show.
Now, it’s a comfortable atmosphere to the point where even other audience members can enjoy seeing people get what they deserve.
I felt a brief moment of gratitude toward Braun.
But Supervisor Park Minseong slightly shook his head.
“We didn't come for work.”
Huh?
“…We came to meet you. Roe.”
……Me?
“Roe. How on earth did things end up like thi….”
[Oh my, friend!]
“…!”
The Host beckoned from the stage.
Right. The commercial is almost over. That means the show is about to continue!
“I’ll be heading up now. I’ll see you again next time. Ah! I think this one will be really interesting... feel free to enjoy the show.”
“That....”
I ran toward the stage, waving to the audience without waiting for an answer.
The lights were blinding.
The talk show ended today to thunderous applause and cheers.
[Thank you. Then we’ll see you again tomorrow at 11:33 PM, everyone!]
Braun skillfully wrapped up the broadcast and, as always, took care of the staff and officials on the stage after the lights went out.
And so did I.
I was staring at the empty audience seats when I suddenly snapped out of it and received his praise.
[How was it? It was more fun than you expected, wasn't it, Soleum?]
“Yeah. Um... it was better than I expected.”
[I’m very glad to hear that. Good. I’ll talk to the writers about having Soleum appear once or twice a week from now on. ‘Braun’s Friend’!]
“Ah, yeah.”
Perhaps because I felt recognized, my stomach felt a bit fluttery. Let’s take it as a good thing!
Then the Host asks in passing.
[Ah. Was your conversation with your former colleagues enjoyable, Friend? I saw them talking to you from the audience.]
“…! Yeah. It was good to see them after a long time.”
[I see. I’m curious about what kind of pleasant conversation you had!]
“Ah, they were checking to see if I had eaten.”
[Aha, our show always provides a dedicated catering service for the staff's meals….]
The TV screen blurs.
[…You haven’t even touched a meal. Mr. Roe Deer. You haven’t applied for the personal catering service either. Goodness! I told you about it on the first day.]
I just didn’t feel like it. I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck.
“I was fine without eating.”
[Good heavens! You’re making me look like a villainous partner who doesn’t even provide meals. No, it’s my mistake. A new crew member might miss things while busy adjusting, so this Braun should have paid more attention as a friend….]
Braun reached out his hand.
[They say inspiration and ideas come from physical strength. Promise me you won’t do this again.]
Well. It didn't really make a difference, and I actually felt like I was in good condition....
“Um. I’ll try.”
[Oh dear, my friend has even learned bad industry-style habits!]
Braun chided me jokingly, but he didn't force the issue any further.
It was time for a break now.
[I’m telling you this just in case you forget to rest, but to create the best show, you also need sufficient rest, Soleum!]
“I get it. See you in a bit, then.”
I parted ways with Braun for a moment.
Then, passing the staff, I went around the backstage and headed to my waiting room.
Click.
After opening the door and going inside, I rolled up my sleeves and looked at my arm.
My tattoos, invisible under the makeup.
“…Hmm.”
It was strange. It seemed that tattoos covered so they couldn't be seen wouldn't function.
‘The live broadcast is over now, so I can wash off the makeup.’
I rubbed the makeup off.
: Socius :
: Benefactor :
Then I reached my hand into the tattoo that served as my inventory and took something out.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen this, too.’
What I held in my hand was a Nostalgia Candy.
‘Since I told them I’d eat.’
Well... I wasn’t particularly hungry or lacking energy, but.
After a moment of thought, I opened a piece of candy and put it in my mouth.
Chomp.
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