‘The fear that I might die.’
Perhaps that is the essence of a ghost story.
Recently, I’ve even experienced a government-managed Disaster that, theoretically, could only be cleared if someone died.
This means I’ve become quite accustomed to the explanation that ‘people usually die in ghost stories,’ and I’ve grown somewhat numb to it.
Since I’ve somehow managed to squeeze through the eye of the needle every time.
-It’s driving me crazy, but let’s start by looking for a way out.
the past few months were more than enough time for this to become my fundamental way of thinking.
But….
“Originally, everyone went missing. Only one headless corpse returned.”
“…….”
“But after repeating it a few times, one person luckily made it back alive, right? We built the Manual based on that person's testimony.”
It was the standard process for completing a High-Grade Dark Exploration Manual.
“But no matter what we do, there’s one thing we can’t change.”
And that was….
“The death of one person.”
“…….”
“The mechanism for who gets picked? There isn't one. No logic. It’s literally just random. We’ve done this thirty-seven times now, and it didn't matter what equipment they wore or what Items they held.”
“…….”
“It’s even designated as soon as you enter, so preparation or response is impossible.”
To think such a situation would come.
Literally by pure luck, I have a 1/12 chance of instant death.
…Including my team members, it’s a ridiculous probability of 1/3.
Someone just dies.
“You might be thinking, they could just put in some bastards who deserve to die, so why include someone as talented as you….”
“No, I wasn't.”
“Is that so? I heard it.”
“…….”
“It’s unavoidable…. But this damn urban legend says it’ll only let us clear it if there’s a challenger with a smart head.”
So we can’t even put in disposable pawns.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s lips twitched.
“If the probability of dying in a B-rank is 8.3%, it’s actually a pretty decent average figure.”
“…….”
It was the truth.
Just look back at the exhibition ghost story.
That case was worse because there was no Manual, but even when one was fully prepared, deaths were bound to occur at a non-negligible rate.
Even so.
“The fact that I’m trapped in that probability no matter what I do… it feels strange and incredibly absurd.”
“…….”
It wasn't strange.
There is a clear difference between dying ‘just because’ without even being able to struggle, and having the possibility to do something about it.
The latter is a challenge, and the former is slaughter.
“…Is giving me three days a way of telling me to prepare my heart?”
“That’s usually how it goes.”
It’s probably because after about three days, one's head cools down, and they start to think rationally and hopefully.
Thinking, ‘Surely I won’t be the 1/12?’….
“Roe, this is your first time with this kind of Darkness, right?”
“……Yes.”
“Go out and grab some coffee. Buy one for me too.”
I took Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s card and stepped outside, hearing her tell me that it was ‘okay to take my time.’
She sent me off with the excuse of a coffee errand, but it was essentially mental care for the rookie.
‘This is insane.’
Thanks to that, I’m currently leaning my head against a cafe sofa with an Americano in front of me.
Fear… well. Since I haven't not been afraid since falling into this place, that wasn't the problem.
I’m just troubled.
‘In this situation, information or whatever is meaningless.’
Perhaps it’s because I’ve realized that I’ve been operating under conditions where I could be more ‘certain’ than other employees until now. I feel a strange sense of self-loathing.
And a strong sense of crisis.
“…….”
‘Should I just resign?’
Wouldn't it be better to quit now and look for other methods?
Investigating ghost stories independently based on the <Dark Exploration Record>….
-Ah, Friend!
-In that case, how about working in the show business industry from now on?
What??
-Oh, of course. For my Friend, a good job is always ready…. As the old saying goes, what are friends for? Haha!
I was so startled I almost rolled off the sofa.
‘I’ll pass.’
That certainly snapped me back to my senses.
-How disappointing….
Right. In this neighborhood, there were countless cases where one ended up in a state worse than death.
Besides, investigating alone independently? That’s a choice only a fool who forgot he was a coward would make.
As expected, quitting because of a 1/12 probability is a stupid move.
‘But sitting idle is also a stupid move.’
-Ah, are you going in?
‘Yeah.’
For now, I need to find out more about this ghost story.
I returned to the office with takeout coffee for the team members and read through the tablet PC.
And….
‘…Sigh.’
It’s true. Random.
It was a ghost story I already knew through the <Dark Exploration Record>, but the problem was that almost everything I had read was already written in the Manual.
‘There’s no new information.’
I don’t know any more information than what others already know.
‘There are no gaps.’
The <Dark Exploration Record> also explicitly stated that the explanation was ‘random upon explorer entry.’
There were no exceptions or suspicious parts. In the first place, this hadn’t been treated as particularly important.
From the perspective of the writer, they probably just passed it over as a premise. They likely thought there was nothing particularly special about it, considering people die in every ghost story anyway.
And….
“The team leaders are excluded from this deployment. Only employees at the level of assistant manager and below will be deployed here.”
“…….”
Section Chief Lizard would not be accompanying us on this exploration.
It was based on the consideration that if a team leader were designated as a Sacrificial Lamb, the employees might ‘accidentally confuse priorities’ due to the difference in rank.
“There’s no Cleanup team or Elite Squad either. There was a huge mess once when they went in.”
Apparently, someone from the Elite Squad—that is, from Team A, B, or C—was designated as a Sacrificial Lamb, and in their struggle not to die, ‘unnecessary losses’ occurred where quite a few other employees died as well.
I don’t regret that I should have gone to Team A, but this damn company is truly consistent.
“Thank you for letting me know.”
“Don’t thank me.”
The assistant manager seemed to be finding solace in smoking, somewhere between enlightenment and irritation. The supervisor said something to her, and the two of them headed upstairs with their cigarettes.
“Did you see the list? The employees going in together….”
“Yeah, honestly, if one of them died, I don’t think I’d even go to their funeral. Surely they didn't pick only the bottom-tier ones based on personality, did they?”
“Hey, we’re not like that!”
I kept trying to find something by comparing the <Dark Exploration Record> and the Manual.
A gap to squeeze through.
A small void in the rules.
And then.
That afternoon, a path to evade the rules suddenly revealed itself.
Though in a somewhat different sense.
“Supervisor Kim!”
“Manager.”
Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin came to see me. As the person in charge of the Manual Review, the fact that he came all the way here was definitely not because he was ‘just passing by.’
“I heard! No, I heard you’re going into that crazy Russian Roulette darkness, Supervisor!”
“…….”
I’ve thought this before, but he really has a talent for speaking in a way that slightly pisses people off….
However, Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin hadn't come just to make a fuss.
The Section Chief lowered his voice, and after confirming no one was around, he whispered softly.
“Why don’t you try talking to Director Ho?”
“……!”
“I’m telling you, he’s keeping an eye on your performance, Supervisor Kim.”
“What you’re saying now is….”
I looked at the Section Chief.
“Does it mean that if I speak to the Director, he’ll take me out?”
“Exactly!”
“…….”
“Usually, they just select based on fairness or whatever… but I’m against it, against it. Huh? A young man with such a bright future like Soleum should be taken out. You’re the top recruit!”
A true evasion method had appeared.
Getting out because a superior looks out for you.
I opened my mouth.
“I’m fine.”
“Wh-What?”
I must absolutely not choose this.
‘It stands out too much.’
The moment I choose that, I’m effectively choosing a line within the company.
In a ghost story company, the executives wouldn't be ordinary people either, so I shouldn't take a side by ‘clinging to a desperate situation to get saved.’
Besides, this is a matter of survival.
‘The moment I’m exempted, rumors will definitely go around the company.’
There’s no way they’d look kindly upon that.
It’s a kind of selfish act.
To be recognized as a proper member of a community, sharing the pain is essential, but if I tried to evade it….
‘I’ll be completely marked.’
Given the nature of the Field Exploration team, which always has to move in 3-person squads, it’s an act that would seriously mess up my company life.
If the Director had stepped in and taken me out without anyone knowing and then quietly called me to take credit, that would be one thing.
The fact that it isn't like that means they aren't ‘paying attention’ to me enough to take me out separately.
Or….
‘They consider luck to be a type of skill.’
So, this is a trap.
Even if it’s bitter, saying this is the correct answer.
I spoke calmly, as if I were a man of principles.
“If I’m the only one receiving special treatment, it’s a privilege. There must be a reason why the company assigns work this way, so I will do my best to fulfill my responsibility.”
“Uh… uh….”
Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin stuttered, but after asking several times if ‘I was sure,’ he eventually accepted it and turned away.
Really…….
I barely held back the urge to grab his pant legs and scream yes…….
‘Let’s find meaning in the fact that I’ve built up my character.’
Since there’s no other joy besides that.
I watched the Section Chief's retreating back bitterly before returning to my seat.
‘Let’s look at the Manual again.’
But whether I looked at the <Dark Exploration Record> or the Manual again, it was the same story—no gaps.
Because there were no exceptions for any of the explorers.
‘So all the explorers who entered are in this victim draw…….’
“…….”
Wait a minute.
‘This….’
I re-read it several times.
‘…Could this be a gap?’
I can’t be sure.
‘It’s a possibility.’
But in this situation, it’s right to grab onto any possibility and try it.
-Did you think of some fun idea, Mr. Roe Deer?
It’s not fun, but an idea did come to mind.
‘Creating an exception.’
-Hmm?
All explorers who entered this ghost story were, without exception, put into the 1/12 instant death draw.
But perhaps there was a common condition shared only by these explorers?
A condition where an exception had never occurred until now.
-What kind of common condition?
…….
‘That they are human.’
In both the Manual and the Dark Exploration Record, the explorers are human. There are no descriptions of cases involving other life forms.
But in this world, humans aren't the only intelligent beings, are they?
And if you include animals and plants, it becomes limitless.
‘If it’s a living being that isn't human, could it avoid the judgment?’
Considering the Trends of the Irregular records in the <Dark Exploration Record> I’ve read so far, that seems like the most likely exception in the current situation.
-Mr. Roe Deer, do you want to stop being human?
‘N-No, it’s not that.’
I wish he wouldn't ask such pure questions that sound like a trap.
‘I just want to be treated as if I’ve stepped outside of being human for a moment.’
I chose my words deliberately.
‘Like dressing up as someone else for a show.’
-Ho-oh.
‘…Is that something possible for Braun as well?’
-Ah, of course it is possible!
Strength and vitality are added to Braun’s voice.
Just like when he’s hosting a show.
-Is it not the fate of an Entertainer to take on a new identity? I possess countless masks and…… ah. I think I can lend one to Mr. Roe Deer right now!
It was a jackpot.
‘Let’s try this.’
“Whew.”
I finally took my eyes off the Manual and leaned my head back.
Then, having finished their cigarette break, the assistant manager and the supervisor entered the office and waved at me when they saw me.
“…….”
Ah, dammit.
‘Braun, about that ‘mask’ ability… could you perhaps use it for multiple people?’
-Multiple people? For those who are not Friends?
‘Well, including me.’
-…If I regain more of my peak skills, it would be possible. Back then, I even put dozens of people in the studio! No, was it hundreds?
…Good.
‘Braun.’
-My Friend calls for me again!
I politely patted my pocket.
‘Let’s take a bath.’
-…!?
-Mr. Roe Deer, this is much appreciated, but I am not an entertainer so fascinated by the occult that I enjoy bathing in my Friend’s blood.
“I know.”
Even though he was a quiz show host who blew up guests’ heads, Braun, as a ‘Good Friend,’ was certainly that kind of being.
But there was no other way.
Even if I tried to get blood bags from the hospital somehow, the freshness would be low and thus the efficiency would be poor, and I couldn't use someone else’s blood.
And I couldn't exactly bring a monster from a ghost story like last time.
‘The remaining Mountain Ginseng won't satisfy the intelligent being condition anyway since whatever was inside it has left.’
What’s left is obvious.
It’s my blood.
I looked into the small, elegantly checkered tub.
Still clean and smelling nice, this is the Blood Bath I bought from the Alien Shop.
Now I have to pour my blood into it.
“I probably won’t be able to give much either. About half a cup, I guess.”
In terms of quantity, maybe around 180ml.
-Half a cup! It’ll be tight, but for a bath bomb with a small body full of cotton, it wouldn't be bad. Diluting it in water… no, that’s not it. Will you really be okay?
I was fine.
‘I can do it.’
I took a deep breath and gripped the kitchen knife.
Beside me was the wound-healing potion I had brought back from the company medical room.
“Phew.”
I stabbed the flesh of my arm with the tip of the knife.
-Oh my goodness!
Blood poured out.
It burst and overflowed profusely, as if I had found the artery correctly.
Ha….
‘Remember. I’m afraid of creepy situations, not the bleeding itself….’
This isn't a creepy situation…!
Repeating this to myself to calm down, the blood soon fell into the tub in the predicted amount.
‘This should be about half a cup.’
But I didn't stop the bleeding.
-Mr. Roe Deer?
A little more.
-I think it’s enough, Friend!
A little more.
-Friend?
This much should do.
‘There.’
I quickly stopped the bleeding on my arm with the company’s medicine. The magically effective medicine brilliantly halted the arterial bleeding.
I felt a bit dizzy due to the amount of blood loss, but it was fine.
‘I just have to drink a potion for this too.’
I’ll be back to normal by the time I’m deployed to the ghost story the day after tomorrow, so it’s fine.
What’s important is….
Isn't it that the tub is filled with a fragrant scent?
“Whew….”
I looked into the tub. A fragrant smell hit the tip of my nose properly.
It seemed my blood had successfully fulfilled its role.
‘I think I took out almost 500ml.’
It seemed to have turned into a bath additive properly….
‘…The smell of wood?’
When I caught the scent, it for some reason reminded me of that damn Changwi ghost story forest, which felt a bit unpleasant, but anyway, it was better than a foul or strange scent.
I nodded and spoke to Braun.
“You can go in now. Is the scent okay?”
-Ah, of course. It is an interesting scent. Much like Mr. Roe Deer’s unpredictable and fickle decisions!
I smiled.
“Are you being sarcastic? Because I shed more blood than predicted?”
-Sarcasm is an essential virtue for a mass talk show host! But I do not display that virtue just anytime.
“Thanks for worrying.”
-…….
“I’m going to treat it properly, so it’s fine. I won’t do it again in the future, though.”
-Now you are speaking wise words, Friend.
Is that so?
To be honest, I did it this way on purpose.
I thought that if I gave the ‘Good Friend’ a bit of a shock here, he would feel a sense of repulsion at the thought of bathing in my blood in the future.
And it seemed to have worked.
‘If I had predicted this amount, he might have accepted it naturally.’
That wouldn't do.
‘This kind of thing must end with this one time.’
I tried to pick Braun up and put him in the tub, but Braun declined again.
-I shall walk in grandly on my own two feet.
Oh, alright then.
I turned my back to the tub. Soon, I heard the sound of footsteps and the splashing of water as he entered the tub.
The bath had begun.
But a moment later.
-Mr. Roe Deer, this bath additive you made….
-Hmm, it is a bit unique!
Pardon?
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