A dull mind ponders while staring into the darkness before its eyes....
A ghost story of the Church of the Luminous Unknown that was deleted from the Wiki.
Yet, it exists here. Is it because....
‘...Is it because it exists, even if only as a deletion record?’
Ghost stories that were once registered on the Wiki after meeting the recommendation count, but were later deleted for failing to meet the listing criteria, could be found under ‘Deleted Ghost Stories.’
If so....
Is this ghost story truly a Divine Power created by the Church of the Luminous Unknown?
Or, since it was deleted for ‘Insufficient connection to the Church of the Luminous Unknown,’ is it something else entirely?
……Just what kind of world is this, that summoned me into this bizarre body…….
Confusion spreads through a slowly crumbling brain.
The smoke wavers.
“…Are you okay?”
A voice is heard.
It’s the one wearing the Badger Mask.
I can feel his gaze peering inside from outside the bathroom.
He seems to want to talk.
Wait
However, I must make a judgment.
That is to say, if a ghost story that could potentially belong to the Church of the Luminous Unknown falls into the hands of Daydream Inc., what kind of influence or side effects would it have…….
…….
…….
Does that matter?
It doesn’t matter.
There is no point in me agonizing over the origin, fundamental nature, or contradictions of a ghost story; the only task given to me is to perform my duties.
That is the purpose of my employment contract, and nothing else is necessary.
There is only one thing for me to do.
Verification in progress
To determine if this is a Suitable Darkness for Daydream Inc.’s Dream Essence production.
The three criteria for that.
I can deduce it.
The most likely meaningful clear method is, ‘Hold out without ever coming into contact with rainwater until the rain stops.’
Possession on a rainy day.
Since it is a ghost story rooted in luring rather than direct slaughter and violence, there is a chance of survival just by maintaining one’s sanity and locking the door.
Once Exploration Records accumulate, behavioral patterns can also be inferred.
‘Criteria 1 and 2 met.’
And the final third condition.
3. Ease of containment or storage.
…….
I stared into the bathtub filled with rainwater and slowly tapped my chin with a finger.
I make an estimate.
And I reached a conclusion.
Conditions met
: Suitable Darkness
And.
Proceeding with suppression into a transportable form
I carried out the work.
“Roe? Right now….”
I covered the rainwater in the tub with fog.
The things hidden by the fog will now regain their original form.
By deleting unnecessary descriptions and records.
Into its natural state.
[Rainwater Echo]
: On rainy days, it targets a Sacrificial Lamb approaching the vicinity of the rainwater pit, bewitching people by mimicking the appearance and voice of previous victims during this process.
Furthermore, it uses the meaning of ‘speaking’ in a chillingly broad sense, through various forms such as letters, notes, or drawings.
It adopts the format of a Quantum Choice ghost story, putting one in a situation where they must agonize over whose words to believe between two options, but in reality, no matter what is chosen, the outcome is abysmal, toying with the Sacrificial Lamb.
A twist that exploits the human psychology of believing one can survive by choosing the right person.
[Rainwater Echo]
: On rainy days, it targets a Sacrificial Lamb approaching the vicinity of the rainwater pit, bewitching people by mimicking the appearance and voice of previous victims during this process.
Furthermore, it uses the meaning of ‘speaking’ in a chillingly broad sense, through various forms such as letters, notes, or drawings.
It adopts the format of a Quantum Choice ghost story, putting one in a situation where they must agonize over whose words to believe between two options, but in reality, no matter what is chosen, the outcome is abysmal, toying with the Sacrificial Lamb.
A twist that exploits the human psychology of believing one can survive by choosing the right person.
Aaaaaaaaaah!
A death cry and pleas erupt from the bathtub, echoing through the bathroom.
The scream of one whose existence is being erased.
It resembles the scream of a victim.
Having learned the process of luring prey for quite a long time, its methods have become far more sophisticated than drifting superstitions.
‘You’ve learned deception.’
The dead victim becomes new bait, mixing truth and lies to fabricate plausible choices and lure yet another victim.
Disguising, imitating.
It mocks from both sides.
Listen to one side and doubt; listen to the other side and doubt.
By then, it is literally already ‘too late.’
The prey, becoming mentally weaker each time they realize the truth and the sense of wrongness, soon chooses one side and follows its words.
No matter which side they choose, the end is here in this rainwater.
This time, it just happened to be a couple and a child’s handwriting in a sketchbook.
But that too is the end.
[Rainwater Echo]
: On rainy days, it targets a Sacrificial Lamb approaching the vicinity of the rainwater pit, bewitching people by mimicking the appearance and voice of previous victims during this process.
Furthermore, it uses the meaning of ‘speaking’ in a chillingly broad sense, through various forms such as letters, notes, or drawings.
It adopts the format of a Quantum Choice ghost story, putting one in a situation where they must agonize over whose words to believe between two options, but in reality, no matter what is chosen, the outcome is abysmal, toying with the Sacrificial Lamb.
A twist that exploits the human psychology of believing one can survive by choosing the right person.
The rainwater covered in smoke is now endlessly vomiting up the corpses it had eaten.
Aaaaaaaaaah!
Thud.
Th-th-thud.
The sound of a corpse pushed out of the bathtub hitting the floor echoes in the bathroom.
The tiled floor fills with corpses.
Aaaaaaaaaah!
Corpses pile up.
I repeated the work of covering, withdrawing, and covering with smoke, watching its end.
The puddle of rainwater, having spat out every last piece, vaporizes and boils over.
Delete.
‘More.’
Until you lose your identity and are crushed.
‘More.’
Like me.
‘More.’
I feel my body covering the bathroom and crumbling more and more. Until it reaches an irreversible stage, until the very edge of the line, until everything is lost….
“Roe!”
!
“Roe, stop!”
…….
…….
Inappropriate Title
Reason: Unofficial
I retracted the smoke.
From behind, I hear the sound of the one in the Badger Mask panting.
“…Sorry.”
There was no need to apologize.
‘Right.’
If I delete its identity as a ghost story entirely, it can’t be used as Darkness…….
I exhaled smoke through my gas mask and swallowed it again. My crumbling body is slowly being restored….
I feel Badger’s eyes waver as he looks at the pile of corpses.
“……How did you become able to do something like this?”
I don’t know.
I don’t want to know.
What matters is the next step of the task.
Prepare Transport Cage
“…….”
The one in the Badger Mask silently brought over the Transport Cage I had been in.
I confirmed that there was enough space inside the Transport Cage I had occupied, even excluding the ‘volume I would fill.’
So….
Cr-crunch.
I can feel the rainwater, which had been torn up along with the bathtub and brought into my grasp, shrinking in terror.
I willingly crammed the bathtub containing the rainwater into the Transport Cage.
Clang.
The sound of the iron door closing echoes.
“…Confirmed.”
It’s done.
I exit the bathroom door carrying the Transport Cage.
…….
Silence softly envelops the house.
The rain falling outside the window remains the same, but instead of chilliness and strange anxiety, a peaceful darkness resides there.
The sound of the rain is gentle.
As if it were everyday life.
“Ah….”
The caller from the Sales Team, who had been under the Sergeant’s supervision, seems to have noticed it as well.
Hope spreads across that face.
“I-is it… over?”
Positive
“Ha….”
The employee sinks down again.
But this time, it’s not due to fear, but due to relief.
Soon, the lights returned to the house.
Flash.
The interior, bright once again, was as ordinary as if nothing had happened.
“We are returning to base.”
And the other Security Team employees report the current situation of having returned to reality and escaped the ghost story.
Amidst that, the relieved Sales employee managed to pick himself up and offered a smile.
“Th-thank….”
There is nothing to be thankful for.
Remaining step
: Settlement of Costs
“……Pardon?”
Because everything has a price.
[Settlement Complete]
[The estimated costs will be executed.]
“…….”
At the words coming from his dead superior’s pager, the blinking Sales employee looks up.
“…H-how much will it be?”
[An officer in charge will be assigned shortly.]
[Time remaining: 30 seconds….]
“Excuse me, hey! Ah…!”
Suddenly.
A thought slowly passes through my mind.
Anyone who visited this place regularly on rainy days would have been as good as possessed from the moment they entered this house.
Like that employee’s dead superior.
But….
Did Daydream Inc. really not know?
That the couple who regularly purchased special potions had become victims of a ghost story and were replaced. Or that they were already receiving potions in the state of residents within a ghost story from before.
That Sales Team employees could get caught up in that situation.
Did it not matter in which direction things went as long as the payment could be made? Or rather, on the contrary….
…….
…….
That is not for a Security Team employee to judge.
“…Let’s go back.”
“Excuse me…? Hey…!”
The Security Team returns to the company. The shadow of the pager swallows the Security Team again.
I, too, was kept inside the Transport Cage and transported to a containment cell in the basement of the Main Building.
But I kept thinking about it.
How the expression on the caller’s face that seemed to say ‘I lived’ was gradually being permeated by anxiety.
That crumbling pile of mosaics.
[Well, now. Should I call you the kind of talent our company wants... no, a god-tier talent? Haha!]
[To think you’d catch it right away!]
The sound of excited chatter.
I hear the sound of Kwak Jekang, the Researcher in charge who received this task report, flipping through papers in excitement.
[Grade, ah, what grade would it be... it should be at least D or higher. If it turns out to be C, it would be a very interesting, I mean, a Darkness that could produce such a variety of Exploration Records.]
[A whisper on a rainy day!]
“…….”
[Well, I suppose the two Security Team members who were attached as support should at least thank the employee-nim.]
[It must have reminded them of the old days, and imitating the Field Exploration team must have been very fun!]
The person in the Badger Mask clenched his fist, then released it as if in resignation.
…….
I added one more to the accumulated count for the Researcher.
And.
Question
[Ah, of course you can ask anything, but…….]
Question:
Specific costs billed to the caller
At that moment.
[…….]
[Are you… curious about that?]
The Researcher’s voice became very soft.
As if he wanted to be gentle.
[Of course I should answer. But… since it’s the first time you’ve been curious about something unnecessary for work, are you perhaps curious about anything else related to it?]
[Anything is fine….]
As if there is something he wants to find out.
[Shall we ask whatever your heart desires? It’s okay even if it’s not related to work!]
…….
I drew with smoke.
Inquiry about costs: Work-related
▶ Efficiency issues
[…Huh?]
Changes in work matters according to costs
: Possible triggering of caller’s aggression and unexpected behavior
[Pardon?]
I even kindly attached an example.
Example phrase: Make it worth the money
After a silence.
[……Ah.]
[That… yes. Well, I suppose… that’s true?]
The Researcher’s deflated voice echoed through the speaker, sounding slightly flustered.
[Hmm… most calling employees don’t know much about the costs, so it probably won’t go that far.]
[And the cost is usually not money. …It’s labor.]
…….
[This caller will probably be processed to work at a branch office for a few years.]
Branch office?
A branch office of Daydream Inc. It’s a setting value not specifically described on the Wiki.
[Well, isn’t it good? Getting a remote work allowance too.]
For a moment, an impulse that could be called worry or curiosity flashed through my mind, but it soon sank beneath my pulverized thoughts.
Because an alarm was ringing in my head, signaling that my working hours were over.
—Your working hours have ended. Your working hours have ended. Your working hours have ended….
[…Oh dear. Is it that time already? Well then, see you tomorrow, employee-nim!]
The speaker also cut off.
Just like that, the secret room I was in became silent without noise.
…….
I sat on the edge of the bed.
Now, even the training videos don’t play.
Silence flows in the space imitating a room in the company housing. There are a few books on the bookshelf and a laptop on the desk, but they are all models. They do not function.
I cannot interact with them.
In this place, until the next working hours come… I cannot work.
Stillly….
Knock, knock.
…!
“Um, is it… okay if I come in…?”
I looked back at the iron door.
Someone was standing outside.
Not only were they standing outside, but I soon heard the sound of the iron door being softly opened and someone entering…….
Security Team.
The one in the Badger Mask and the Sergeant.
My team members.
“Sorry I’m a bit late, I had to go wash up.”
From outside, other Security Team agents close the iron door.
But they do not leave.
“…Hey, you know.”
The one in the Badger Mask holds something out to me.
A thick, heavy, rectangular object.
“I got permission to bring this in! The Sergeant said this much would be okay, and it actually worked.”
It’s a book.
12 Essential Classics for Youth.
“…I thought you might be bored.”
…….
I reached out and took it.
The people sitting across from me seem to be smiling happily….
“And… you know.”
A voice that sounds slightly nervous.
“I-I was thinking… even if it’s just when it’s only us, could we call you Roe?”
…….
“The S-Sergeant said it was okay….”
“Yeah……. If it’s not working hours, you can use… unofficial titles…….”
…….
Positive
“…! Right.”
I hear a laugh from behind the mask.
And he sits next to me.
“…Good job on your first Security Team shift, Roe.”
…….
The hand that naturally moved toward my head out of habit falls to the floor.
Because there is no shape of a head to ruffle.
…….
I raised both hands.
“Roe?”
A dull desire.
A desire I haven’t felt since the employment contract rises up roughly and dully, faintly from the very bottom….
I want to take on a similar form.
I want to interact in the same way.
It feels like a desire expressed in such sentences.
“W-wait a second. Hey…!”
I covered my form with smoke.
But I don’t know how to make it.
Just as one cannot learn how to breathe, I, conversely, do not know how to artificially create what I was once innately able to do. I felt my face. Bone, rubber, silhouette, and a non-existent esophagus. Nostalgia Candy that I cannot consume….
…….
Nostalgia.
Request
“Huh?”
“…What kind?”
I completed the sentence.
Request:
Nostalgia Kitty
“…!!”
The two Security Team members bolted upright from the floor at the same time.
Because they understood the meaning implied by this request.
“T-then… wait, uh, Sergeant?”
The Sergeant is already heading out the iron door.
And as if ignoring the fact that there is a dauntingly long distance and inspection procedures to the front of the rental warehouse, he returns in a surprisingly short time.
Holding the requested item in his hand.
“…Here,”
From within the pale hand with protruding knuckles that I held out, a red line falls.
An item in the form of red yarn.
Nostalgia Kitty
Something that was used after rescuing Supervisor Park Minseong, who had been contaminated in the ‘Hungry Hangman’ ghost story previously.
Its effect is….
When worn, it fixes the subject in the form they were in when their body and mind were at their healthiest during the past ten years.
The more severe the mutation, the faster it snaps.
I took the Nostalgia Kitty.
And wrapped it around my neck.
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