Assistant Manager Jin Nasol and I walked down the path at a brisk pace.
Since we were close to escaping and felt like we had seen all there was to see, our pace didn't slow, but I could feel the surrounding atmosphere changing….
{«-Fairy Rock
Shinmaru Retreat Center-»}
After turning right at the signpost.
'…Somehow, it feels damp…….'
A clammy, muggy sensation seemed to cling to my skin.
And strangely, each step I took on the path felt a bit more difficult. Feeling the bizarre sensation of my feet becoming heavy, I silently moved forward….
Eventually, we reached the end of the path.
“It’s over there.”
The point where the path ended was wide open.
And a concrete building filled my vision.
Under the dark, moonless night, that shabby and massive building stood as if eating away at the mountain.
‘Whew.’
Looking at the sign, which was visible even within the darkness because it was so large, I heavily stepped forward….
Prize Collection Point:
Information desk in front of the 1st-floor entrance of the Retreat Center
The 1st-floor entrance was made of glass, as is common for retreat centers, so the interior was slightly visible.
‘…It’s a total mess.’
I was relieved that there was no need to go inside.
The window was visible on the right side of the entrance.
{Information Desk}
“It looks like a security office.”
“It must be for dual use.”
Like an information window, the top half was blocked by glass.
It was pitch black inside, like something dead. …So much so that I wouldn't know even if someone were there.
The glass also had a hole, commonly used for passing tickets or items.
“Am I supposed to push it in here?”
“Just a moment.”
Just in case, I politely ‘announced’ our presence.
“I have participated in the stamp event.”
At that moment.
A hand emerged from the darkness of the window.
“…!!”
It looked like the hand of an ordinary middle-aged person.
They were wearing a security guard's uniform…….
“Assistant Manager.”
I quietly handed the paper with the stamps to Jin Nasol. Assistant Manager Jin Nasol raised an eyebrow.
I spoke up quickly.
“I’d like you to have this prize, Assistant Manager.”
“Alright.”
Without declining, Jin Nasol placed the paper on top of the ‘guard’s’ hand.
The guard’s hand grabbed the paper and took it inside the window, disappearing….
Thud.
Then, something popped out of the window.
A small box repurposed from a cardboard box. It was quite deep and had a hole on top.
“I’m supposed to draw one, right?”
“It seems so.”
Assistant Manager Jin Nasol reached in without hesitation and picked one out.
‘Let's see, the 8th prize was the participation prize.’
I think the supernatural effects started from roughly the 4th or 5th prize.
A colorful ball was pulled out by Assistant Manager Jin Nasol’s hand, and when she turned the surface, a character appeared….
[3rd Place]
“…!!”
That's amazing.
Slide, the guard’s hand came out again and laid out a plastic-wrapped prize in front of the window.
Ebony prayer beads, silver ornaments
It was exactly as described.
The corners of Assistant Manager Jin Nasol’s mouth quirked up as she picked up the black prayer beads, which had two silver ornaments subtly shimmering and intersecting.
“This is nice. I guess 3rd place is quite high?”
Yes.
“Congratulations.”
‘I guess members of the elite squad have good luck too….’
I swallowed my envy and raised my hand.
It was my turn.
“Then, I will submit mine as well.”
And then, I tore off a part of one of my work clothes’s sleeves.
Riiiiip.
“…!”
The poor-quality fabric barely tore under my weak grip strength.
On the cloth, the three stamps I had collected separately were stamped like a flyer.
“Just in case. I didn't have the flyer, so I stamped it here. …Here it is.”
I placed it on the guard’s palm.
Instead of throwing or pushing it away, the guard’s hand froze for a moment as if stunned, before disappearing back into the window.
“…You certainly know how to make use of a situation.”
It was nothing.
Seeing the prize box come out of the window again gave me a slight thrill.
One prize per person. What a great phrase….
“Thank you. I’ll take whatever comes out of this.”
“Yeah.”
Whew.
‘Good.’
Now that the prize ownership was settled, let’s think quickly.
Exploration cases I can refer to….
‘Hmm.’
First, given the duplicate prizes, it seems the prize draw is the type that ‘restores to its initial state’ every time this ghost story opens.
‘There was no nuance of winning specifically according to ability or using tricks.’
But overall… in terms of the trend.
‘It seems that people with more composure during the escape tend to draw higher ranks.’
For instance, the civilians in the Exploration Records who had previously drawn 3rd place were a mountain climbing club.
Meaning they were people who could move around in this environment while being relatively less flustered and less scared.
Besides that….
Includes a statement of winning the 4th prize at the prize collection point during an interview.
These were seven high school students who were wandering around as a group without knowing anything.
…Returned alone, covered in blood. Stated to have won the 2nd prize at the prize collection point.
This was a serial killer.
There was a counterexample too: a person who returned with their whole family missing, having lost their mind but clutching the prize tightly….
‘Conversely, it also means they were out of their mind and didn't have the capacity to be scared or nervous.’
Considering these and the situation where Assistant Manager Jin Nasol just drew…….
“…….”
Ah.
“I’ll draw now.”
I reached my hand into the box.
“Why are you thinking so hard? It’s just luck anyway.”
“I was wondering if there might be an element other than luck.”
“…!”
Assistant Manager Jin Nasol watched my hand inside the box.
“Did you notice something?”
“Perhaps.”
I formed a hypothesis like this.
‘The events at this retreat center don't seem to be that sophisticated or grand.’
Since they looked like they were just for show from the start.
In that case, let’s assume the prize draw remained like that too.
At this retreat center, they would have made the prize box and then put the drawing balls inside.
How would they have put them in?
‘They were most likely put in order.’
Very naturally.
From number 1 to number 9, one after another.
‘Then the lower the number, the earlier it was put in, causing it to end up at the bottom.’
In conclusion, the higher the rank, the higher the probability it's at the very bottom of the box…!
‘But in this situation, it’s hard to act proactively and reach all the way to the bottom of the prize box to draw.’
An explorer who doesn't know the situation would be afraid, and an explorer who does would be pressured by the light.
Either way, they are dominated by the urgency to draw a prize quickly and leave.
‘Conversely, it’s the same even if you choose a prize very carefully.’
Even if you try to pick up various prizes hoping for an item, there would have been no weight difference, making it hard to distinguish, and the more you rummage, the more the existing pattern disappears, until it truly becomes pure luck.
Ultimately, high ranks are drawn by people like this:
Those who reach deep into the box with a bit of excitement or expectation and pick one out from the bottom.
‘This fits the trend perfectly.’
People who seemed to have more composure
during their escape.
So.
‘I’ll draw it properly in one go too…!’
I pushed my hand in deep.
I reached as deep as possible into the prize box within the ghost story, sent my hand to the very corner of the bottom, and grabbed a buried ball.
And I pulled it out.
‘Please.’
Even so, of course, the influence of luck cannot be completely excluded. It might end up being the 8th prize participation award.
‘Whew.’
Taking a deep breath, I turned the red circle held in my hand. I checked its surface….
[1st Place]
“…!”
‘Holy crap.’
It was the top prize.
My head tingled. This was something not even in the Wiki…!
‘Wa-wait.’
Surely 1st place doesn't mean an ending like being missing here, right? Even in a state of peak dopamine, I watched the window nervously.
Fortunately, the guard’s hand came out and dropped something.
Clear Water Opticians
It looked like an ordinary glasses case.
On the front of the black case, which had a wood grain texture, the name of the optician and a water droplet logo were engraved.
But when I clicked it open, inside was a pair of black-rimmed glasses with unusually clear lenses.
Even in this lightless place, it felt as if the frames were reflecting silver.
‘Wow.’
This was extraordinary.
I immediately tucked it carefully into the inner pocket of my work clothes.
Before I woke up as Worker Z999, I used to spend tens of millions or hundreds of millions like play money in the <Cosmic shopping mall> to buy items.
But now, it feels like dopamine is about to burst out because of this one thing.
‘Great.’
The harvest was good. Now, the return….
“I think you could fit some mineral water in that glasses case?”
“…I guess so?”
It won't work.
The moment we leave the retreat center area, it’ll be judged as cleared.
Hmm. No need to say it out loud…. She’ll find out soon anyway.
‘Let’s go.’
I walked energetically with Assistant Manager Jin Nasol.
Leaving the retreat center building behind and walking away, once we leave the retreat center area…….
……Hmm?
‘…Why aren't the surroundings changing?’
I should be walking out of the containment cell door as I come to my senses while enveloped in the fog. Did I not walk enough?
“Assistant Manager, look over there….”
The moment I turned my head, I realized.
Assistant Manager Jin Nasol was not there.
Deep in the mountains.
I stood alone in the darkness.
“…….”
Wait a minute.
Could it be… am I the only one who can’t leave?
‘No.’
I moved my feet again, approached the retreat center building, and then left the area once more.
…It was the same.
I was still standing alone in front of the abandoned retreat center building.
“……Ah.”
I’m screwed.
I don't know what it is, but something went wrong. What? What’s the problem?
‘Do I need to find the other groups?’
No, that's not it. It's a foolish move to act recklessly just because you're scared and want to see someone.
‘Don't increase the variables for no reason.’
Meeting other people won't solve the problem.
The principle!
‘Why couldn't I leave?’
What is the difference between me and Assistant Manager Jin Nasol? The one who drank the water from the mineral spring was Assistant Manager Jin Nasol, and the one who threw the curtain over the strangely changed worker was also Assistant Manager Jin Nasol…….
…….
‘That worker.’
The worker had pushed me.
And.
Click.
As my body hit the switch, the light inside the lodge had turned on.
‘It was me.’
This time, I was the one who turned on the light.
Just like the worker who vanished.
“…….”
I didn’t need to see to know that my face must be pale right now.
‘Wait, wait a minute….’
But, I haven't gone crazy yet?
I didn't lure Assistant Manager Jin Nasol into a trap or act on some strange impulse as the worker did. No, to begin with, that might not have even been the worker.
‘The important thing is that I haven't been replaced or disappeared… right?’
I went around interacting just fine.
Even now… I don't feel particularly contaminated.
“What is it?”
Instinctively, I leaned my back against the retreat center wall and sank into thought.
‘…Is it a matter of intent?’
Strictly speaking, I didn't turn on the light myself. Someone pushed me, and the light accidentally turned on as I bumped into it.
‘I was involved in the process of the light turning on, but I didn't press it of my own volition.’
I could be seen as having been used as a tool.
‘But in the end, I was somewhat involved in the process… I see.’
Most importantly, I can't get out of this darkness right now.
“…….”
It seemed I was somewhat ensnared by this ghost story.
‘Ha….’
In this case, thinking in terms of genre tropes….
‘I probably have to find a separate way to escape.’
“Phew.”
Calm down.
I’ve done well so far. I can do it this time too.
‘Is there any incongruity that could be a hint, or some hidden truth of this ghost story?’
There was one thing that immediately came to mind.
The courage test paper.
Refreshing Courage Test
Collect all 43 stamps and receive a prize.
Visit the famous spots of Sagyeong Mountain in the sunless darkness to develop courage and self-discipline, and to train your mind.
Fairy Rock – Sagyeong Lodge – Osaek Mineral Spring
Prize Collection Point:
Information desk in front of the 1st floor entrance of the Retreat Center
‘There were clearly 4 stamps, but it had been manually corrected to 3.’
It’s easy to dismiss it as a common ghost story trope because of the symbolism of the number 4, but if things are like this, another thought occurs.
‘If there is one more stamp…….’
There was only one candidate.
Something that had continuously appeared on signposts and was part of this courage test course.
Wow, this is really driving me crazy.
I broke out in a cold sweat as I looked behind me.
‘You want me to go in there?’
Alone?
Why are you doing this to me….
“Ha….”
…The fact that I don't know what might happen is the most nerve-wracking part.
‘Is there any element I can get help from or utilize?’
I scanned the area around the retreat center.
Right now, my knowledge about this retreat center consists of only my experiences and fragmentary, ominous hints from the Exploration Records. Among these, there is a lack of information helpful for ‘entering the retreat center’….
‘Let’s think more.’
You can do it. This isn't the first time you've been in a situation like this. You’ve already escaped from several similar predicaments.
I desperately wracked my brain.
Something that could be helpful….
Sagyeong Lodge Public Telephone
※Please use proper manners
and keep calls short^^
Wait a minute.
The lodge telephone and the flyer imitating a Disaster Management Bureau rescue request.
‘If it didn't know, it wouldn't be able to imitate it, would it?’
So the fact that it could imitate meant this ghost story knows the original….
How would it know?
Where would it have learned it?
‘It knows because there is a means to send a rescue request to the Disaster Management Bureau somewhere in this ghost story…!’
And if it wasn't found in the courage test sites I've visited so far, then all that’s left is….
“It’s only here.”
I looked back at the retreat center.
And this time, I moved my feet with more certainty.
Creeak.
The glass door opened heavily, revealing the dark lobby of the abandoned retreat center.
‘Rather than being further inside, it’s more likely for it to be here.’
Since the Disaster Management Bureau installed it, it would very likely be in a place at least somehow accessible to people. I first scanned the area thoroughly.
…….
‘Found it.’
And then I discovered it.
In the corner of the lobby, a dark rectangular silhouette lying on the floor.
I approached and observed it carefully.
‘It’s a telephone!’
The device, with its line still connected, seemed to have fallen from the wall.
My head tingled. Preparing myself to dash out at any moment, I observed it more cautiously….
‘This telephone also has speed-dial buttons, just like the one at the lodge.’
Among them, I noticed that number 3 was uniquely clean.
It was the same place as where the ‘24-hour specialized call’ label had been at the lodge.
As if a label had been attached and then removed.
And one more thing.
The screen area of this telephone, where a light would come on, was completely wrapped in black tape….
“…….”
I closed my eyes and picked up the receiver.
And carefully, I pressed speed-dial number 3.
Ring….
Ring….
Ring….
Click.
-This is the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau. Are you currently in need of rescue?
The call went through.
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