Suddenly, Braun critiqued the bath additive I made by squeezing out 500ml of my own blood.
‘…Unique?’
I was flustered.
‘I almost looked back at the bathtub.’
I held my head steady and asked.
“What do you mean by unique?”
-Exactly what it sounds like! Well, aren't there different types of bath additives? Salts, oils, bubbles…. Mr. Roe Deer’s has quite a few differences from that Mountain Ginseng. There are similarities as well, though.
Well,
That guy is a ghost story Mountain Ginseng, and I’m a human….
‘Wouldn't it naturally be different?’
-It would be. But why would Mr. Roe Deer have anything in common with that Mountain Ginseng?
“…!”
-Hmm… Ah. I see the reason.
Braun smacked his lips as if tasting wine and said:
-Mr. Roe Deer. Your bath additive is blended.
Blending.
Literally, a mixture.
It mainly refers to mixing various raw materials in coffee or cocktails to create a new flavor….
-Indeed. It contains a mixture of raw materials from a similar lineage as the Mountain Ginseng….
“…….”
Is he talking about Ghost Story Contamination?
I thought of the Sergeant.
The way that wolf-like thing had appeared, tearing through and twisting the human form.
Is that phenomenon of being Contaminated and Eroded by an Anomalous Phenomenon happening to me too?
-Contamination! What an extreme and negative expression. Isn’t life originally a process of change? Influencing one another, that is the joy of it!
Damn it.
I reflexively looked down at my body. If there was any noticeable influence from an ‘Anomalous Phenomenon’….
“Do you think the cause of that ‘influence’ is the tattoo?”
-Hmm. It is quite difficult to guess the origin of something that has already been mixed….
-Some connoisseurs say they can name the vineyard just by touching the tip of their tongue to the wine, but I am not the type of Host who likes to put on such airs!
“…….”
-Anyway, what I’m saying is that Mr. Roe Deer isn't going to meet a new version of himself by next week or anything, so there is nothing to fear!
Theoretically, he was right.
‘As long as I live and work here anyway, some degree of Ghost Story Contamination is unavoidable.’
Making a fuss for no reason was meaningless.
The stronger the Supernatural Ability one can use, and the more types one has, the greater the power of Erosion becomes.
One has to find a balance in between.
I didn't think I had enough abilities yet to warrant worrying about that balance, though.
‘…I’ll have to manage this from now on.’
Among the facilities opened to me when I became a Lead, there was a place that managed exactly this.
I should visit it once I get through this ghost story safely.
-Hmm. There seems to be something else very unique mixed in…… Ah, it has all dissolved.
Braun, who had been sniffing as if trying to further identify the bath additive, let out a long, satisfied sigh.
-I enjoyed it thoroughly!
I’m glad at least you enjoyed it.
Inside the bathtub, neon lights flickered a few times as if changing TV channels.
And the shadow of the plush doll, lying comfortably against the bathtub wall, crossed energetically.
-Shall we go out now?
I walked over and picked up Braun.
This time too, the plush doll looked strangely more high-end, but there was no difference in size.
Still, Braun's voice sounded somewhat clearer and more intelligent.
I covered the doll with a towel to hide it from view and asked.
“Are you full of energy?”
-Incomparably so!
-Mmm, it feels like I’m returning to the state of awakening from my busy days….
It seemed there wasn't a change as dramatic as when I used that Contaminated Mountain Ginseng, but he did seem to have undergone a ‘rejuvenation.’
And the moment I lifted the towel covering Braun, I noticed something I hadn't seen earlier.
‘…A tag?’
On the nape of the plush doll, I saw a scrap of fabric that looked like a tag had been cut off.
‘Was there a whole tag attached to this spot originally?’
It looked as if he had recovered part of what had been cut off during the rejuvenation process.
‘It’s a strange feeling.’
I should keep that in mind.
-Ah, how comfortable.
“That’s good.”
After drying the plush doll, I placed it carefully on a towel on the table where I usually kept it.
Preparations were complete.
“I have a favor to ask.”
-Ah, I had a rough idea!
-How could I refuse after a Friend even assisted me with my bath! You probably want to ask to lend my mask to other people, right?
“That’s right.”
Because the rejuvenated Braun would be able to use more powerful abilities.
-Very well. How many people?
“Two.”
Two days later.
Following the official notice I received, I went to work at a location other than the company.
It was an already closed private preschool building, and people from the company had already taken their places inside.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Roe’s here early!”
As I stood near the entrance of the preschool, which hadn't been properly cleaned, the team members soon arrived.
“Please, let those bastards die instead of us.”
“Please… definitely….”
“…….”
Thank you for speaking in such a small voice.
But honestly, even if they had heard, it probably wouldn't have mattered, because everyone was wearing the same expression.
“Roe, Roe! See that person who wove a rabbit’s foot over there? That’s an Item that’s supposed to improve your luck.”
“Does it really work?”
“As if. In the exploration before last, a guy who brought a similar Item got picked and went to the afterlife in one shot.”
“…….”
“Assistant Manager Haje is right. All those Items are void here… they say the selection is ‘fair.’”
I looked back at the Lead, who was smiling awkwardly.
His face was pale; even though he had prepared himself, he seemed very nervous.
“Lead.”
“Yeah?”
“Would the company mind if I tried something like that too?”
“Ah, devising a countermeasure to avoid being the Sacrificial Lamb?”
“Mm, something like that.”
The Lead laughed and patted my back.
“Oh, Roe, of course! Everyone’s doing it!”
“I’ll bet my salary that every human in here has spent the last three days pulling all sorts of bullshit to save their own skin.”
You’re quite fiery, Assistant Manager….
Assistant Manager Eun Haje smirked.
“How do you think they found out it doesn’t work in the first place? They found out because the bastards who tried everything still got picked as the Sacrificial Lamb.”
“…….”
“Why? Are you going to try something, Roe?”
“Yes.”
I hesitated for a moment before pulling Braun out of my pocket.
“Ah, the keychain you carry around.”
“He’s my lucky Friend. Would it be alright if I lent his ability to you two as well? Keep it a secret, though.”
Both of them smiled with slightly drained expressions and nodded.
“Well… thanks.”
“I’d really love to have some luck!”
Okay.
‘I’ve also done the preliminary work so that there won’t be any complaints later.’
“Phew.”
-Now, let us prepare.
“Entering soon.”
Like the others, I looked at the single old wall clock hanging in the entrance.
Tick.
The clock hand passes 8:59:56 AM.
-Now, you are entering the studio.
-Don't be nervous if you see a camera; think of it as starlight. It will be very comfortable.
Tick.
57 seconds.
Strangely, my heart was calm.
A certainty about my identity.
-It just so happens you are wearing a mask! Oh, excellent.
-That mask is you from now on.
Tick.
58 seconds.
I raised my head.
My horns were itchy. They had a wood-like texture, but only I knew that they weren't actually wood, but ■■….
-There are other animal friends! Two of them.
Tick.
59 seconds.
When I turned my head, I saw a Badger and a Falcon. The two were observing the humans around them.
And….
-It seems no one here is more powerful than you.
I know.
I blinked. My heat-sensing vision identified the poikilothermic animals nearby.
The human body temperatures rising with tension.
And….
Tick.
9:00 AM.
The wall clock rang its alarm loudly.
Bong……!!
“…!”
I inhaled.
The preschool building, which had felt like a ruin, had suddenly transformed into a clean space smelling of a new building.
It was like a brand-new building just before it starts operating.
And I was standing inside a room with organized toys, together with the Falcon… no, Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
…We had entered the ghost story.
“……."
I slowly looked down at my neck.
It was clean.
“Ha.”
I relaxed my body.
‘I avoided it.’
The strange sense of total body thickness, like wearing a mascot suit, and the tactile sensation of the horns gradually faded.
As did that strange certainty of identity.
-Well, your short roles end here.
Thanks.
‘So this is what the mask is.’
It was a truly bizarre feeling, so I was glad it was over quickly.
Perhaps because he had designated three of us and used it so precisely and precariously to the limit, Braun’s voice also sounded drained of energy.
The fact that he had held out for those few seconds was impressive.
‘Good work.’
I was about to gently pat Braun inside my pocket….
-Now…… wait a minute. Good heavens, what is this?
“…?”
Why was he panicking?
I immediately pulled Braun out of my pocket.
Then, I saw something hanging from the plush doll's neck that hadn't been there before.
…A black rope hologram.
The mark of the victim.
“…?!”
Is Braun picked as the victim now?
‘A ghost story resident?’
Just as I was about to become insanely confused about whether the possibilities had gone completely haywire or if I should be worried.
Braun started chattering.
-Excuse me? What do you mean, participate in an educational demonstration… My profession is interviewing teachers, not teaching children myself. Good grief!
-Show business my goodness! You people are so boring. Stuck in a rut, inflexible, and lacking any charm the public would like.
-I’m out.
Then, he snapped his cotton-stuffed fingers.
Then… surprisingly, the rope vanished from the plush doll's neck!
“…!!”
-To try and drag someone in by mentioning rules when they aren't even a suitable participant! What a preschool with absolutely no professional ethics.
“…….”
‘Being judged as something other than human… it really did work.’
Though it felt a bit different from what I expected.
Seeing that the ghost story passed the rope to another target because Braun was picked but refused to participate, it was certain.
“…….”
Wait.
‘Passed it?’
I hurriedly looked down at my neck.
It was still clean.
‘Who did it go to?’
It was a relief that it wasn't me, but was this situation right—where a random person dies because a ghost story resident refused to take the baton?
“Roe.”
In a panic, I turned my head toward Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
“Assistant Manager, I just…….”
“…….”
“…….”
Before my eyes as I turned my head.
“Don’t panic, just take a deep breath. Slowly.”
The Assistant Manager gave a thin smile.
“I’m going to ask you a favor now… if you don't think you can do it, refuse.”
“Assistant Manager.”
“I’d like to do it myself, but I guess I can't.”
The Assistant Manager gave a smirk and tapped it.
“Because it’s confirmed, you see.”
Her own neck, where the black rope was hung.
==========
Dark Exploration Record / Ghost Story
[Hungry Hangman]
: A ghost story appearing in the <Dark Exploration Record>, with Daydream Inc. identification code Qterw-B-191.
A Darkness themed around a word-guessing game, it allows no exceptions to any rules for explorers.
One can never step out of their assigned role.
the psychological conflict and fear arising within it are exquisite.
The Sacrificial Lamb designated as the Hangman is placed on the Execution Platform every time other explorers guess about them, and eventually, they are hanged.
There are no exceptions.
==========
“I guess I should say I’m lucky there’s time to leave a will, at least.”
No.
“Wait, please just wait a moment….”
“It’s fine.”
The Assistant Manager’s smile turned into a bitter one.
“Hey… I’m dying anyway.”
“…!”
“The only difference is whether you guys live and I die, or we all die together.”
…It was true.
If the correct word is not guessed by the end of the game, the participants are disposed of.
The Hangman is also disposed of.
There are no exceptions.
Damn it.
“Now, so listen carefully. I have some things set to be automatically purchased from the Point Mall if I die on the job.”
“…….”
“Just check if the Lead verifies it properly. That man can be surprisingly airheaded.”
At that moment, I realized.
This person has completely accepted the situation.
Bzzzzzt—
“…!”
“Snap out of it. It’s starting.”
In a corner of the playroom.
An old TV flickered to life with static.
[Hello, ■■ English Preschool teachers! Today, we are going to learn a fun game you can play with the students!]
[It’s… Hangman!]
The rope around the Assistant Manager’s neck moved violently.
“…!”
The rope, having taken form, wrapped around her arms and legs one by one, lifting her into the air.
[Today’s teacher, New Recruit Eun Haje, will lead the game!]
And giant blank spaces appeared on the TV.
[Hangman! Let’s guess the word together!]
The hanging had begun.
Discussion