Let’s summarize.
While chasing a missing person, I encountered a strange and horrific phenomenon and was sucked into somewhere.
The conclusion was simple.
I’ve gone missing, just like the person I was looking for.
Swallowed by a ghost story.
“P-Police officer...?”
And probably these kids too.
About five or six kids in middle school uniforms were looking at me with expressions full of both hope and sorrow.
Seeing those faces actually made the sense of being overwhelmed vanish, and my senses returned.
‘First.’
I need to grasp the situation first...!
“I’m not a police officer.”
I showed them the <Daydream Inc.> logo on the front of my security Uniform.
“I’m an employee of a private security Company.”
“Ah...”
It seemed they had mistaken my security guard uniform for a police uniform.
Resignation and fear began to fill the children's faces. I quickly added more.
“But I can still file reports or take security measures. So, stay calm and can you explain what's going on?”
“Ugh, yes...!”
the student with short hair who spoke first swallowed hard and began to speak in a trembling voice.
“Well. We, we... came on a school trip.”
First-year students from a middle school in Seoul came to Gyeongju for a school trip.
The teachers divided the kids into groups to make them easier to manage, and it seems these kids in Group 3 were particularly cheerful and curious.
“T-There was a mountain behind our accommodation. But, we saw something like a pavilion... and said we should go there for a test of courage.”
They had decided to sneak off to that ‘pavilion’ by themselves in the middle of the night.
‘Sigh...’
Normally, they would have been caught by the teachers and scolded, or they would have looked around and come back laughing.
But....
“There was a painting in that pavilion.”
This is the Ghost Story Worldview.
“I-It was a strange-looking painting of something like a house...”
The student swallowed hard.
“Someone was watching us from that house.”
“......”
“So, we were like, telling each other to go closer...”
“You touched it.”
“......”
The student who was speaking nodded and began to sob.
“S-Suddenly, from the painting, a sound like ‘Well done, well done’ came out, laughing loudly and... something strange came out,”
And when they came to their senses, they were in this eerie abandoned house.
“There are strange noises outside the window, and even when the sun comes up, I can’t see anything because of the fog... I, I can’t get out......”
Behind them, a boy with a mischievous look was also whimpering. Everyone seemed on the verge of panic.
‘Ha...’
I asked intentionally calmly.
“Did that painting look like a Scroll Painting?”
“Sniff, a Scroll Painting?”
“Something that looks like a scroll.”
“Ah... uh, not that... a, traditional painting? You know, a traditional painting... um, drawn with a brush like this...”
“...An ink wash painting?”
“Yes!!”
The middle schooler nodded vigorously.
If so... perhaps that is the common point of being drawn into this ghost story.
A Scroll Painting was usually an antique item.
‘There’s a high probability that the one the person in charge had was also a traditional ink wash painting.’
Since that bizarre black-red liquid running wild in the bathroom (ugh) also looked like ink.
To summarize....
A ghost story where a bizarre ink wash painting swallows humans who come into contact with it and sends them to a terrifying place.
‘...There seem to be about five or six of them.’
The category has narrowed down quite a bit. The problem was that not a single one of these Darknesses was easy.
‘These kinds are truly authentic ghost stories...’
Superstitious horror that suffocates a person.
The kind of scary story that smells somewhat of shamanism.
“......”
I’m really in trouble. I’m weak against ghosts as it is....
‘It looks more serious than the convenience store ghost...’
In a desperate attempt, I wanted to increase the number of people. Usually, it's less scary if there are more people!
Is there anyone else?
Come to think of it, where did that Sergeant go? He should have been caught up with me, but there's no sign of him.
If even that security guard were here, it would be a source of strength, but this... I can’t depend on the kids.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Still, I asked without showing it.
“You must have been very scared. How long have you been here?”
“A, a day...? I don’t know......”
“Aren't you hungry?”
“We had some snacks... so we ate those.”
“I see.”
‘They must be at their limit too.’
Middle schoolers who just graduated from elementary school were trapped here by themselves?
It’s just that they don't feel the physical exhaustion because they are in a state of hyper-arousal from fear, but it was easy for them to collapse from exhaustion just like this.
“I-It’s so scary, and my phone doesn’t work, so...”
“Right. First, I’ll look for a way out, so don’t touch anything else for now...”
Wait.
“Then are only you guys here? No other adults?”
“Adult! There is, there is, but...!”
It was then.
...From far away, a sound of screaming is heard.
Aaaargh!
“......”
“He’s over there, just screaming by himself... that mister is scary.”
“......Right.”
I’m scared too....
‘But I can’t drag you guys along...’
In times like this, having a warm Plush doll (alive) that gives comfort might be advantageous after all.
‘Braun.’
I called the Good Friend in my pocket.
Come to think of it, this guy seems a bit quiet.
Mr. Roe Deer.
A slightly dejected voice came out.
I am sorry. You went to such an unhygienic and dirty space just to give me a gift....
It seemed he was feeling quite guilty. I chuckled.
‘It’s okay. We just have to get out.’
Actually, it's not okay.
But getting angry here doesn’t mean I can quit midway, does it.... It would only build up resentment in a moving killer Plush doll.
You are truly bold! That is a wonderful talent as an Entertainer!
No. I’m a coward.
So please, cooperate intensely.
‘Will you help me get out?’
What do you need? Just say the word! this Braun will prepare it....
Hmm, with this, even if I can’t pull off five thousand, there shouldn't be an issue with the affinity level.
After patting Braun, who promised full cooperation, over the pocket, I moved my feet toward the inner part of the abandoned house.
...Towards the place where the screaming was heard.
“I’ll go check it out, so will you wait here for a moment?”
“Yes, yes...!”
Of course, I was in a state where I had a 500-won coin loaded so I could use the Remote Hand at any time.
And a flashlight too.
‘I’m glad it’s attached to the Uniform.’
I moved further forward, relying on the thin beam of light.
Aargh...! No, don’t...!
...Save me, save meeeeeeeegh!
As I got closer, the voice became distinguishable, and syllables and sentences could be heard.
The sound of screaming from beyond the wall of the dark abandoned house was vivid. Ha....
‘E-Endure it.’
I felt a chill down my spine because I wanted to run away.
The moment I forced myself to turn the corner.
“This f-king world! This f-king company...!!”
I saw a familiar face.
“...Manual Review manager?”
The office worker in his 40s, who was struggling in front of a wooden board covered with Talismans, widened his eyes when he saw me.
It was the missing Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin.
“T-The security team...??”
Ah, right.
I’m wearing the security team Uniform.
“M-My goodness! Are you an employee of the security team?!”
The other person’s face brightened, and he crawled toward me, trembling.
“You’ve come to find me!!”
Actually, I was caught too.
‘But why is he being so submissive?’
Ah, is it because he misunderstood me for being part of the security team?
This was almost the first time since falling here that an employee of this Company showed such a prostrate attitude.
I looked down slightly at the borrowed security uniform.
‘...Office workers have a tendency to look down on the Field Exploration team...’
To be precise, they mean the low-ranking general employees of the Field Exploration team. Since they don't know when or where they might die, they were treated casually and people didn't try to treat them well.
I remembered the administrative employee whose attitude subtly changed when she found out I almost became part of the Elite Squad.
And even Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin, who is rolling his eyes while breaking out in a cold sweat and trying his best to smile in front of me.
Hmm.
Let’s use this a bit.
I put my hands behind my back and spoke like an employee of the security team.
“A missing person report was filed within the company, so I was searching.”
“I, I see. Haha! Ha, hahaha...! I knew it!! The company didn't abandon me...!!”
No, they did.
“Um, then, uh, you’re going to crush this Darkness, right? Yes?? Because you’re the security team...”
I said in an intentionally indifferent tone.
“The security team is not a job class that crushes Darkness.”
“......!”
“It’s a team that suppresses disturbances.”
“That... that’s true. Yes, haha... I, uh, don't have much experience in this kind of field exploration, yes.”
Okay. I’ve set the atmosphere roughly.
“Explain the situation.”
“Yes??”
“Please describe your experiences since your disappearance in chronological order.”
I have to compare it with what the kids told me to figure out what this ghost story is!
“Ah, yes, yes!”
The other person hurriedly stood up from his spot and began to speak rapidly.
“W-Well, I, I found a very precious-looking Scroll Painting at a souvenir shop near Jirisan...”
It was almost identical to what I heard in the office.
After buying the suspicious Scroll Painting following a tip from the shop owner that it ‘grants wishes,’ his financial luck improved noticeably.
“He said to keep it near water and not to touch the Scroll Painting... and I really won the lottery!! 2nd place!!”
But....
“Strange whispers began to be heard....”
Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin's eyes trembled, and he began to sputter while clawing at his hands.
“Uh, uh... since the wish was granted, it’s only the duty of a scholar to repay it, uh, those kinds of whispers, every night, the sound of water every night, and the sound of crying, the sound of a beast crying coming from afar and closer and closer!!”
Eek.
“No more, I couldn't bear it anymooooore! So....”
“...So,”
I remembered.
The Scroll Painting I saw in the blood-stained bathroom, with its center torn to shreds.
“Were you trying to tear it up?”
“......Yes.”
So, in the middle of the day, in a place other than his own house, a place where there were no witnesses but where he could immediately escape into a crowd of people after tearing it. For example....
‘An unused bathroom in the company.’
He went to such a place and tore the Scroll Painting.
“I tried, I tried to do that...”
“You’re saying you were dragged here.”
“......Gasp! Yes....”
Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin panted heavily.
I stroked the back of my neck.
‘...What should I say.’
He did everything a person who dies in a ghost story typically does.......
In the midst of that, the fact that he went to the basement bathroom of <Daydream Inc.> just to go somewhere without witnesses is almost worthy of applause.
‘Honestly, at this point, I wouldn't have anything to say even if he died.’
I held back a sigh and looked up.
I saw the wall covered in Talismans in front of where Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin had been rolling.
There are particularly many torn Talismans compared to other places.
‘Why was he making such a fuss in front of this?’
I shone the flashlight on the wall.
And I realized the reason.
“...Is it a door?”
A handle was visible through the gaps between the torn Talismans.
And judging by the fact that there was a lock on the handle....
‘A door leading outside?’
“I-It comes here!”
“Yes?”
“The ghost! It comes here every day!”
Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin crawled over with bloodshot eyes and began to cling to my pant leg and mumble.
“I-It comes to eat me. It comes to eat me.... The, the Talismans! They’re falling off every day!”
“That’s...”
“I-It will come today too....”
Knock knock.
“......”
“......”
Knock knock knock.
From the door,
A sound was heard.
Knock knock knock knock.
“It’s here aga—”
I covered Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin’s mouth.
Excuse me.
“......”
It’s too cold outside, so please, open the door.
“......”
Mister, don’t you remember me? It’s seven-year-old Jung Naeun who lived next door at Somang Apartments...
The sound of a young child sobbing and whimpering is heard from beyond the door.
Please help me. It’s so cold and hard... I don’t know where I am, please open the door.......
Forgetting the fear, an strange sorrow that naturally made one feel sympathy was conveyed....
As if possessed, a trembling voice spoke from beside me.
“N-Naeun.”
Mister.
The Talisman on the door burned away.
A hint of laughter mixed into the whimpering sound.
You answered again?
“...!”
“N-No!! Agh!! No! I didn’t answer!! Go away! Go away!!”
The Section Chief, who came to his senses, went into a frenzy.
But.
I don’t want to?
Idon’twanttoIdon’twanttoIdon’twanttoIdon’twanttoIdon’twanttoIdon’twantto
“Hieeeeek!”
Thump.
Thump thump thump thump thump thump
The door began to shake as if it would break.
The burnt Talismans fall.
Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump
The Talismans fall in heaps.
Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump
I barely managed to move my arm.
Thump.
I tossed a coin into the air and summoned the hand.
Thump.
And from among the countless Talismans that had fallen to the floor, I grabbed those that were still intact and somehow...
Thump.
I layered those Talismans over the door handle.
Thump.
The Talismans fell in heaps again.
“Phew.”
However.......
.
The sound from the door stopped.
Among the Talismans I had layered over the door handle, only one remained.
“......”
“......”
That was close.
Goosebumps rose on the back of my neck.
Sob, hehehehe...
The sound of walking, thump thump, gradually fades away beyond the door.......
“Gasp, haaaaa...”
Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin collapsed on the floor.
I clenched and unclenched my sweat-filled hands.
‘This is insane.’
I almost fainted when the door was banging.
I hid my trembling hands behind my back.
A ghost story that traps its prey.
Shamanistic atmosphere, Talismans, eating, temptation, calling voices, fear.......
‘…….’
I knew it.
==========
Dark Exploration Record / Ghost Story
[Sangun]
: A ghost story appearing in <Dark Exploration Record>, identification code for Daydream Inc. is Qterw-C-51.
The eerie darkness of an ink wash painting drawn with the motif of a Changwi.
Exploration has been recorded up to a total of 17 times.
==========
This is a Jangsanbum-type ghost story.
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