[Everyone, what kind of game is ‘Hangman’?]
[That’s right! It’s an educational game where you guess the spelling of a word! If the alphabet you call out is included in this word, you’re correct! If not, buzz!]
[And to make this game even more conducive to learning, we’re going to give you several hints.]
The Assistant Manager was hanging in mid-air.
The pastel colors and bright voice of the TV, so starkly contrasted against her, hammered at my ears.
[Then, shall we begin?]
Hanging in the air, Assistant Manager Eun Haje broke into a cold sweat and gave a bitter smile.
“The introduction is long, even though everyone knows what’s going on anyway. Don’t you think?”
The B-rank nature of this Ghost Story lay in the hellish few hours leading up to death, filled with soul-crushing and blood-drying mental pressure and agony.
……It went like this.
It was true that the Sacrificial Lamb chosen for Hangman was effectively handed a death sentence.
However, at the moment the ‘play’ actually proceeded, they remained temporarily alive.
And this victim….
[This keyword is the one word that best describes Teacher Eun Haje!]
[Shall we all guess what kind of person Teacher Eun Haje is together?]
Is ruthlessly exposed.
According to the Dark Exploration Records, all attempts to hide the victim’s personal information during this process failed.
Major life events are fatally announced, as if their entire life is being scrutinized and judged in detail.
The Hangman game format was even modified for that very purpose.
[Everyone, the number of letters in this English word is 8.]
I looked up and saw the blank spaces displayed on the TV screen.
If all the letters were filled in correctly, an English word would be revealed.
Originally, the participants of the game would take turns throwing out random letters, and if there was a matching blank, it would be filled in naturally.
That was how the word was deduced.
But….
‘Here, every single letter is connected to the victim.’
[Here is the hint for the 8th blank letter!]
[What was Teacher Eun Haje’s profession four years ago?]
In this manner.
It was easier if you guessed things related to the other person’s identity. So, if you wanted this process to go more smoothly….
The victim’s cooperation was required.
You had to persuade or threaten someone who had been sentenced to death to speak.
“…….”
“…….”
Cold sweat dripped down my chin.
‘So, right now….’
What am I doing?
The plush doll in my hand, the old-fashioned TV, Assistant Manager Eun Haje hanging in the air…….
What could I do?
‘Let’s run.’
I moved my feet.
“Roe! Where are you going?!”
“There’s no time. I’ll explain later….”
“Are you looking for the Execution Platform by any chance?”
“…!”
“It’s no use even if you break it. You know that, right? You read the Manual.”
“I won’t know until I try.”
I would call Section Chief Lee Jaheon like I did during the quiz show. Then, if I asked him to destroy the Execution Platform again… yes, until it was restored, it would buy some time—
“Wait a second.”
There was no time.
“Just sit down for a moment. Actually… I have something I want to try at the very last minute, too.”
“…….”
“I’m not just saying that. So don’t do anything to stand out for no reason. We can’t have you racking up unnecessary Penalty Counts.”
Penalty Count.
“You know, right?”
I knew.
This Ghost Story was based on the fear that comes from a stifling sort of oppression that strictly constrains everything.
The movements and actions of the 12 ‘New Teachers’ were critiqued by the kindergarten in real-time via CCTV, and if one behaved in a way unbecoming of a teacher, they received a ‘Penalty.’
[1 minute left. Teachers, please raise your hands and shout out a letter!]
“Assistant Manager Eun! Assistant Manager Eun!”
Just then, the door to the playroom burst open and an employee rushed in.
His face looked frantic, as if he were driven mad by frustration and anxiety. He must have been looking for the victim, and his expression likely turned out that way because he couldn't run.
This was because even running faster than a brisk walk was forbidden in this kindergarten.
Cursing was forbidden, destruction was forbidden, and everything that went against the rules of play was forbidden.
“F-fuck…… whew. Why did it have to be the end room on the 3rd floor!”
The employee let out a shriek at Assistant Manager Eun Haje as if venting his anger. Even so, he seemed to be holding back his curses to follow the rules.
“Hey! You… Assistant Manager Eun, what did you do four years ago?”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje smirked.
Because….
“Where the hell do you think you’re coming from, talking down to me like that, you piece of shit?”
“…!”
In all these rules, the Hangman was an exception.
“Wh-what… why, all of a sudde….”
Because they were going to die anyway.
“I only refrained from pointing it out before because I didn’t want to get involved with you, you retard. My mood is shitty enough as it is since I’m likely to kick the bucket without collecting all my points.”
“U-uh….”
“Get a grip if you’ve already killed three newbies, you crazy troll bastard.”
The employee’s face turned beet-red with rage.
“Do you feel wronged? Are you annoyed?”
“N-no….”
“Still, you have to endure it. You don’t want to be judged as having ‘No Contribution’ and get a penalty later because you couldn’t get a single letter right, do you?”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje spoke with a smirk, as if slowly agitating him.
“There are only eight spots, so behave yourself. Got it?”
“…….”
The employee shut his mouth tight.
If he had a brain, it was the obvious judgment.
In this Ghost Story, the scenario where only one person dies is the best-case scenario based on the manual; in fact, total annihilation easily occurs if things go wrong.
It was a Ghost Story where survival was guaranteed only if the rules were followed to the letter.
‘And in this Hangman game, if you don’t get a single letter right, you get a penalty during the final ‘evaluation’ too….’
It was then.
“Hey, Roe. Come here.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje called me.
As I approached, she lowered her voice so that only I could hear.
“My job four years ago was a reporter.”
“…….”
“Roe, you guess it. Start by getting rid of the ‘No Contribution’ penalty.”
This was driving me crazy.
“Even if you say you don’t want to guess here, nothing changes. You know that, right?”
“It helps my mental state.”
“Please, worry about the mental state of the person who might die soon. Just a little.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje frowned.
“Just understand the sheer shittiness I’d feel if that bastard beat you to it and got it right. Okay?”
Sigh…….
I pressed my temples firmly before finally heading toward the TV.
The eyes of the employee who had barged in widened.
“W-wait, you….”
“The last letter of the keyword is R. It’s the initial for Reporter.”
Static.
[That’s correct!]
The screen displayed the letter with a cheerful sound.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ R
And then.
[Let’s draw the Hangman~]
“Gah.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s body contorted.
From the Assistant Manager’s body hanging in the air, her left foot literally ‘disappeared.’
……One foot had moved onto the Execution Platform.
The Sacrificial Lamb designated as the Hangman moves onto the platform every time the other explorers guess something about them, and they are ultimately hanged.
There were no exceptions.
It was maddening.
“…It wasn’t cut off, so there’s no pain. Don’t worry.”
As if I could help but worry?
“Isn’t it lucky it didn’t start with my neck? At least we can keep talking.”
No.
No matter how much I thought about it, that person’s ‘one shot I want to try at the last minute’ seemed like a bluff to keep me safely here.
‘I can’t just let time pass like this.’
In the meantime, the TV proceeded again.
[Here is the hint for the 5th blank letter!]
[What was the last mode of transportation Teacher Eun Haje used when she was a reporter?]
The employee hesitated, glancing at Assistant Manager Eun Haje and grit his teeth as he spoke.
“T-tell me…. Hey, even so, we—”
“We what?”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje looked at the other person with eyes full of disbelief.
“Three newbies died because of you… ah, you piece of shit, seriously. You should have been the one caught here and dying.”
“Sh-shut up! You’re the one who’s gonna die!”
“Yeah~ so don’t listen to the person who’s gonna die.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje tilted her head with a bored expression.
The employee, whose face had turned a mottled red and purple, shoved me aside and stepped in front of the TV.
“Transportation! Right, it’s obvious based on probability! It’s either a bus or a subway! Right, uh, the initial for Subway, S!”
[Oh dear, buzz!]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ R
[For your penalty, please recite the Educational Manual for 10 minutes!]
“U-uh….”
Along with a distorting sound, a black booklet hologram appeared before the employee’s eyes and…….
“AAAAAAAAGH!”
It stuck to his face.
“Aaargh! Aagh!”
The black booklet that swallowed his face melted as if adhering to his skin. Even as he rolled on the floor and struggled to tear it off, nothing changed.
Beneath the booklet that just kept flowing down, a clear brand mark could be seen on his forehead….
[Chick Class]
Assistant Manager Eun Haje clicked her tongue.
“Taking a random guess at that. Stupid bastard.”
“…….”
“Watch closely, Roe. If those accumulate, you’ll be educated here until you become a proper ‘Kindergarten Teacher.’ …Forever.”
That was right.
In this place, if you couldn't participate in the game faithfully, you would end up in a state worse than death.
“3 times. It’s over if you get hit 3 times.”
A penalty of 3 times.
That was when one became contaminated to the point of no longer being judged as human.
Just like the security team.
‘But it’s an even worse situation.’
If you weren't rescued like the security team, you would just be trapped in this Ghost Story and go missing.
“So don’t do anything useless.”
“…….”
“If you mess up, you won’t even be able to die.”
Cold sweat ran down my back.
‘I know.’
In this situation, I would definitely live if I just followed the manual.
I had even removed my penalty by guessing one letter.
Was there any need to take a risk?
‘Trying something could only make the situation worse.’
In this Ghost Story, there were countless records of people who tried to save the Hangman, only to get contaminated, fail to escape, and end up being endlessly educated as a kindergarten teacher.
There were no exceptions.
Right, there was no answer.
I knew that, too.
That there was no answer.
In here, no matter what, the game had to be completed and the Hangman had to die.
This wasn't a Ghost Story you could enjoy while looking at anomalous exploration records.
‘Its nature is different.’
From the moment it was registered on the Wiki, it was written as a theme that drives people crazy because the rules cannot be broken!
It was a Ghost Story that maximized the fear of the weak, who feel the desolation and frustration of being unable to break the rules and must ultimately desperately censor themselves to fit those rules.
At the very least, there was one tiny variable I had witnessed.
Braun, who had spoken with this Ghost Story and exited the game.
But I had just stood by and watched Braun chatter, so that opportunity had flown away.
‘I should have intervened.’
Somehow, by dragging out time, instead of just handing over the rope immediately, if I had talked a bit more…….
—Hmm?
Braun gasped in disbelief.
—My, I’d like to decline. Having to talk more with these fellows is such a tedious thing!
—Mr. Roe Deer. Are you perhaps saying that I should have willingly mimicked being hanged in this stale game? To me, your friend?
…….
Whew.
‘Braun. I could say the same thing.’
—Wait a minute?
‘When you declared you wouldn't participate in this game, you must have known that someone else would be selected as the Hangman.’
Which means,
‘You did it without hesitation, even though you knew there was a 1/12 chance I could die?’
—…!!
‘Did it not matter to you if I was hanged?’
—No! No… that is not it. However, even this old-fashioned play must have its rules respected as a play… ah, of course, my friend is more important than that…….
I could feel a confusion in Braun’s tone that hadn't been there before.
It seemed that his role as a ‘Good Friend’ and his role as a Host of the Ghost Story were clashing within him.
Let’s not forget, this guy has the twisted mindset of a Ghost Story denizen.
But at the same time….
He was a plush doll who tried very hard to be my friend.
‘Right.’
Let’s find my balance. Even if I’m a coward, let’s not be a fool.
I explained as calmly as possible.
‘What I was trying to say is that I don’t think you should have been hanged either.’
It’s just… I’m just going crazy with anxiety.
‘I meant that it would have been better if I had asked you if we could leave after getting a bit more information. Since it seemed like you could communicate with this Ghost Story.’
—Ah… I see. Unfortunately for Mr. Roe Deer, it seems they’ve decided to treat me as an outsider for now, so no special interview is being connected.
—In any case, if that is your judgment, I can certainly understand!
‘Yeah.’
But vaguely… I had a feeling that we had probably understood each other differently.
Even while thinking that, I simply didn't have any additional brain capacity to spend on it.
‘There isn’t any.’
Even though I knew there wasn't, one part of my mind was desperately searching through the exploration records and manual information I possessed, over and over, trying to find a loophole to save the Hangman.
But there was none.
No, it was natural that there were none!
Because if such a thing existed, it would have occurred to me during the last two days when I was thinking until my head felt like it would split!
‘There are no such cases.’
No matter how much I searched the <Dark Exploration Records> in my head or retraced the manual, it wasn't there.
I already knew….
Even if you destroy the Execution Platform, even if you try to swap the Hangman, even if you hold out without guessing the word.
The Hangman dies, and only penalties are added.
There were no exceptions.
‘They unconditionally die…? Unconditionally……,’
Is there really nothing else?
I grit my teeth.
How….
“Roe!”
Just then, I heard a familiar voice.
When I turned my head, I saw a second employee appearing at the open door….
“…Supervisor.”
“Are you okay…… sigh.”
Supervisor Park Minseong, who was entering the room, gasped when he saw Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
“You’re here?”
“…….”
“You already heard it on the TV, right? Get ready to guess.”
Supervisor Park Minseong’s face was filled with an indescribable surge of emotion before it suddenly calmed down.
“Don’t think about useless things and guess quickly. You know you’ve already accumulated some, right?”
“…….”
Accumulated?
“Supervisor, what does that mean….”
The Supervisor whispered to me with a pained expression.
“Well. Actually, this is my second time coming in here….”
“…!!”
“I came in once right after I joined the company, and now I’m back again after two years. Haha…. I don’t know if my luck is consistently good or bad.”
The Supervisor gave a bitter smile.
“Before, I received a penalty once because I tried to pull someone off who was caught as the Hangman… so the contamination probably accumulated… I’m not really sure. There haven’t been any cases of it until now.”
The Supervisor, speaking incoherently about how he only carried one piece of Exclusive Equipment at a time just in case, looked like he had already lost his mind.
I grabbed the Supervisor’s shoulder.
“…!”
“Supervisor.”
A direct witness.
The only person who would have detailed information that I didn't!
“From now on, please answer my questions quickly and accurately.”
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