I took a deep breath and recalled the instructions for the Blood Bath.
First, fill the tub with warm water.
1. Fill the bathtub with as much clean water as you desire.
(The ‘Bathtub of Youth - Foot Massage Edition’ does not support automatic water supply.)
As instructed, I filled the sink with enough warm water to submerge a plush doll and poured it into the tub.
And….
From here, we get to the main point.
2. Once the water has risen to the desired level, pour 200ml or more of fresh blood into it.
The more recently the blood was drawn from a healthy and vibrant subject, the better the effect.
The fact that such madness was written in a kind and gentle font made it seem insane, but fortunately, I had a substitute.
I lifted the Mountain Ginseng.
Then, using scissors, I cut a medium-sized strand of an outer root.
‘Ugh.’
A dark purple sap, enough to make one nauseous just looking at it, trickled from the severed root.
It was a relief I was wearing rubber gloves.
I leaned the cut end of the root against the Blood Bath, trying my best not to touch the sap.
Then, a marvelous sight unfolded.
Bubble, bubble.
Bubbles rose from the sap as it touched the water, and a fantastic fragrance began to waft through the air.
“…!”
The nauseating dark purple sap had transformed into a rich, beautiful, shimmering rose-cream color.
It was mysterious and fantastic.
Luxurious bathwater so comforting that anyone would be tempted to put their feet in was now prepared…….
3. Soak your Body thoroughly in the bath additive and enjoy your bath.
(The Foot Massage Edition provides vitality to the entire Body.)
From under the dark bed, an expectant voice rang out.
-Finally!
The laughter of a plush doll.
-Ah, there is no need to pick me up and move me! Mr. Roe Deer.
-Please, do not look back.
I froze on the spot.
…From behind my back, a sound began to be heard.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
It was the sound of a plush doll walking.
No, was it… a plush doll? It sounded like the footsteps of a man in dress shoes. The light yet heavy sound brushed right past my back and then stopped.
Then, right next to me in the tub, I heard the sound of something splashing into the water….
-You may look forward now.
I turned my head.
Inside the small tub, a small plush doll, soaked in the bath additive, floated there— retaining its look as a smiling animal Mascot without any change in expression…….
“……Braun?”
There was no answer.
It was only natural. One cannot face a doll and have a direct conversation in reality.
But he was surely listening.
“I’ll put the Mountain Ginseng away for now. Enjoy your bath.”
I moved the Mountain Ginseng, which had stopped leaking sap, back to the desk and looked at the tub.
I recalled the records of those who had used the Blood Bath.
==========
Usage Record #5
A servant in their 40s stirred the water in the Blood Bath with their hand while trying to clear away the bath additive (blood of a 20-year-old Caucasian mixed-race male) that the homeowner had prepared.
30 seconds elapsed until the tub was fully emptied.
Witnessed the skin and muscle tissue of the hand immediately rejuvenate to the state of their mid-30s. Vital signs observed throughout the entire body.
That night, the servant was arrested while attempting to flee with the Blood Bath in a vehicle.
==========
Well, nothing like that is happening.
‘I guess it doesn't work on dolls after all.’
I should go get a towel.
It was just as I turned my body toward the chest of drawers.
-Ooh!
A voice?
I turned my head.
Inside the tub I wasn't looking at, electric sparks flew up as if from an old TV.
-Light enters my powerless limbs!
Flash.
The shadow of the plush doll, raising both arms over the tub, grew thick and large.
What is that?
-Mr. Roe Deer!
Don't call me!
-This is a truly interesting item! Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha!
I swallowed hard as I watched the spectacle.
‘…Is his strength really returning?’
I had never seen a record stating that the rejuvenation of the Blood Bath applied to such a range.
It was a new case.
One I didn't know about.
-More bath additive! Pour more in!
Bath additive.
I unconsciously reached for the Mountain Ginseng on the desk….
[Aaaaack! These bastards are grabbing the Mountain Ginseng!!]
[No, honored guest!! Honored guest! Save me! Please save me!!]
Gah, damn it!
‘It woke up!!’
Terrified, I reflexively threw the Mountain Ginseng.
Thud.
As if it were a lie, the Mountain Ginseng that fell into the Blood Bath struggled as it felt its own leaking sap turn into fragrant bath additive.
[Aaaaaah!!]
But that was all.
The Mountain Ginseng didn't seem able to pull any more tricks like before. I didn't know if the mysterious power of the Blood Bath was suppressing it, or if Braun had done something.
A scream echoed.
[Please save me, honored guest!! Honored guest!! I was wrong! I was wrong!]
[I’ll work hard! I’ll work haaaaard!! I’ll serve you!!]
-How rude and noisy!
More electricity sparked inside the Blood Bath.
It was as if a TV screen was being composited….
Inside, the angry shout of the Host rang out loudly.
-Slit its throat, Friend! Quiet it down. Do not ruin this scene!
“…….”
I stood up.
And without looking into the tub, I spoke.
“I can make it quiet without doing that.”
-…….
“We don't need to use extreme methods.”
-A single moment, a single timing can dictate all reactions and feelings in a show.
“But this isn't a show right now, is it?”
-That’s….
The electricity sparking in the tub subsided.
-I see. Yes. You are right.
Whew.
‘I almost registered a new Blood Bath usage record—Irregular.’
The situation was already absurd enough as it was.
A piteous voice sobbing came from inside the tub.
[Thank you… thank you, benefactor.]
[Kind honored guest! Now please take me out of here and save me from the hands of this lawless monster…….]
I crossed my arms.
“I never said I’d save you.”
[…?!]
Who gets caught in the middle or end of a ghost story?
It's precisely the kind person who lets their guard down in a moment like this!
‘The moment you soften your heart because a ghost is crying, that's exactly when something scary happens!’
At times like this, one must remain calm and firm. I stared at the Mountain Ginseng abandoned in the Blood Bath through the ceramic of the tub.
“How do I know what will happen to me if I save you?”
The sound of sobbing continued.
[Then, then… uh, how about this? The field! I’ll tell you about the precious items around the field where I was!]
“Don't need them.”
They’d probably be ghost-possessed, cursed items anyway.
[Th-then….]
I sighed.
“Just prove for yourself that you won't harm anyone. Be quiet.”
[…….]
The Mountain Ginseng shut its mouth.
It seemed I had bought some time for now.
For several minutes, a time that was suffocating for me and (probably) enjoyable for Braun passed….
‘10 minutes.’
It was when I checked the time.
-Mm. That was a good bath.
“…….”
Is it over?
Just as I was about to turn my head, thinking I should take Braun out of the tub.
-Ah, wonderful…. Thank you, Mr. Roe Deer.
The plush doll's voice became sinister.
-For waiting until my bath was finished!
Crash.
[Kyaaaaaak!!]
Thunderous noise and screams erupted from the tub.
What the hell!
-Just a moment! Friend, do not move. If someone sees, this cotton-filled Body is too shy to move!
[You said you’d save me, you said you’d save meeee!]
-Haha! But Mr. Roe Deer said he never made a promise to save you!
“Wait!”
I eventually ran to the tub.
I thought I heard a clicking sound, but it disappeared when I leaned over the tub.
What I saw was the Mountain Ginseng shoved into a corner, struggling and shaking its berries like crazy.
The berries were half-crushed as if they had been kicked, and the side of the root was mangled as if someone had tried to squeeze the sap out of it.
[Save me, save me….]
The movement of the berries slowed down as if the Mountain Ginseng had already exhausted its strength.
[Me, let me go…….]
…Let you go?
I rummaged through the tub with my rubber-gloved hand and grabbed the Mountain Ginseng.
‘It’s not tied up.’
[Save…….]
A vibration came to my hand following the Mountain Ginseng's words.
“…….”
Vibration.
Come to think of it, whenever this Mountain Ginseng said something similar to words, this kind of wave was transmitted to my hand.
It wasn't strange. A voice is a type of wave, after all.
However, there was something strange.
‘The root isn't shaking.’
Now that I thought about it, even when I first saw it in the field, only the leaves and berries shook when it spoke.
The roots had merely spread out like Contaminated tentacles.
“…….”
If that's the case.
Intuitively, I grabbed the Mountain Ginseng and plucked the berries.
At that moment.
[Hoooooo!]
The berries vibrated crazily and bounced from my hand.
“…!”
Then, as if unable to contain its joy, it circled around inside my hand.
[I’m free!! I’m free! The tiger's mouth is disappearing! Disappearing…….]
[Thank you, benefactor!! Thank you!!]
The berries' form gradually faded and shimmered, and eventually, they rose into the air like a light and disappeared as if flying out the window.
“…….”
Was that the main body?
-Oh my! It escaped. What a waste.
Phew.
-Opportunities should not be given to such low and despicable species that love to change their words!
“Is that so? Still, from now on, please let’s do everything by mutual agreement….”
-Even in moments requiring quick reflexes?
“Unless someone is dying, yes.”
-…I understand. Friend.
It was a somewhat sulky voice, but anyway, I got a confirmation.
Let's be satisfied with that….
-Anyway, look at this! I have rejuvenated quite a bit now!
I looked into the tub again.
The plush doll, which became silent as if by magic once I looked.
The wet lump of cotton somehow had a luster to it.
“……?”
Uh, it really did look a bit more expensive for some reason. Should I say it looked higher quality?
It also seemed to have grown slightly larger, just as he said.
‘…It shouldn't get any bigger, though?’
I carry it around so as not to be suspected because it’s a keychain size. A full-grown employee carrying around a doll larger than their hand all the time would draw too much attention.
I'm already standing out enough at the company.
‘Let's think about this before I use the Blood Bath again.’
No, ideally, it would be better if I could go home before then.
“You’re right. It looks great.”
I fished Braun out, carefully dried him with a hairdryer, and placed him on a sleeping towel.
And when I returned to clear the bathwater, I saw something surprising.
“…The Mountain Ginseng root is still here.”
I thought the Mountain Ginseng would disappear after the berries flew away, but it remained intact.
It even looked healthier.
The Mountain Ginseng, which had been discolored as if Contaminated, had regained its clean, original ivory color.
‘It even seems to have a good scent.’
It looked divine. The exact opposite attribute of a ghost story.
“Hmm.”
I hesitated before picking it up and putting it in my desk drawer.
It might be useful somewhere.
“Well, is this…… the end?”
‘One thing down….’
I collapsed onto the bed.
Wow, I feel like my lifespan has been shortened by about twenty years since I entered this ghost story world.
‘As expected, I need to collect Points quickly and get out of here.’
The irony of having to tackle ghost stories more actively to do that was funny….
-Mr. Roe Deer.
Whoa, startled me.
-It is much easier to move both my Body and mouth!
-Oops, do not look this way.
I almost turned my head but fixed it back onto the pillow.
Then Braun continued to chatter.
-Now, I believe we can have a conversation here as well, provided we do not look each other directly in the eye.
-Is it not a very shy method? It is frustrating, but interesting in its own way.
Sure. Chatter all you want….
‘You have to be my lifeline again when I enter a ghost story…….’
-You seem very tired! I hope you have sweet dreams. Friend.
I fell into a deep sleep as if I had fainted.
It was a refreshing sleep that completely washed away several days of fatigue.
…Although another problem had erupted by the time I woke up.
The same day, at noon.
Around the time Kim Soleum was having small talk with his superiors in the Team D office, this employee, who was quite related to his recent circumstances, was walking down the hallway….
“Ah, Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin.”
Yes. It was the Section Chief who had gone missing and was rescued by Kim Soleum.
“Yes, yes!”
And the one who called out to him was one of the directors.
As an employee, it wasn't a very pleasant encounter, but the Section Chief strained his facial muscles to put on a bright smile and politely accepted the handshake.
He had no choice.
It was the lifeline he had grabbed in the company.
Because this person was at the top of the food chain of this strange and terrifying large corporation, at the very top of the line that connected to Team A and went even higher!
‘Director Ho!’
The director who had called him out in the hallway asked with a mutual smile.
“I heard you returned after being missing. Are you alright?”
“Oh, I'm healthy, Director. Thanks to your concern, I'm perfectly fine and, yes, working hard for the peace of our company.”
“Haha.”
The director did not point out the other person's empty words. Instead, he spoke softly and casually.
“You were lucky. Many people can't get out once they fall into the Darkness.”
“Ah. You’re right… I was lucky enough to be rescued.”
“Rescued? Did you perhaps receive help from the Disaster Management Bureau?”
The director's tone didn't change, but Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin jumped.
This director is a person who is extremely uncomfortable with, and even retaliates against, involvement with the government.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
“N-no way! A fellow employee of our company found me!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, yes. Ah, he's a newcomer to the Field Exploration team this time, and he's a really great guy! Truly!”
To think he could get such a statement out of the mouth of such a self-preserving human being.
The director asked with a smile.
“What is his name?”
“Ah! It’s Kim Soleum…. The Team D newcomer. Kim Soleum.”
From Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin's perspective, he had summoned quite a bit of courage.
To repay his life's savior!
‘Director Ho is a bit eerie, but he’s a decent superior.’
As long as you don't touch his trigger keywords.
“He’s a newcomer with a lot of potential. Yes.”
Thus, a line was being formed in a place even the person involved didn't know about!
Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin wiped his nose.
‘Soleum, you’ll be thanking me later when you find out!’
He was wrong!
But regardless, this action by Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin would bring about a fairly large butterfly effect….
“Oh, I should keep that in mind.”
Just a few days later, an incident broke out in the company.
To be precise, in the Field Exploration team.
Discussion