Chapter 34
“Where should I hide it?”
I stared down the dark hallway. Even if I hid it in another room, it seemed likely that another participant would find it.
“I don’t even want to go in since I have no idea what’s inside.”
I stopped at the top of the stairs. Unconsciously, my eyes landed on the wall where we wrote the truth game questions.
Is your younger sibling alive?
The wall bore the question I had sneaked in. It looked like it had been forcibly scratched in large, black pencil marks.
[Impossible.]
“Does that mean I can’t use it anymore since I already asked it earlier?”
The child in black cloth nodded as if to confirm the answer.
I went down the stairs, taking a deep breath, and opened the door at the bottom.
Inside were five chairs.
“The next game was… the ‘Thump-Thump Game,’ wasn’t it?”
It was a relatively normal game. But the speed gradually increased, causing participants to make mistakes.
If someone made a mistake, a noose would drop from above and catch the loser’s neck immediately.
That was why in the original story, Dan Seohyeok had to play among the participants who had already lost and died.
“I guess I understand why Dan Seohyeok became so brave.”
Reluctantly, I felt like I would have to walk that same path. Haha.
After this, I might be able to watch any thriller or horror movie without blinking.
I exhaled deeply and moved forward.
Four of the five chairs were already occupied. The participants who had arrived earlier stared at me in a way that was almost terrifying.
“……”
They didn’t touch me since the game was ongoing.
I pretended not to notice their gaze and walked past toward the window. I saw the curtain.
I hid the black box behind it.
“If you hide it there, it’ll get found immediately.”
One of the seated participants suddenly spoke, smirking. The person next to them chuckled as well.
Both of them had no teeth in their mouths when they laughed. After seeing all sorts of things to get here, I wasn’t even scared of that.
I almost felt like buying them dentures.
[Hmph!]
The child following me put a hand on their waist and glared. It seemed like a warning not to interfere while the treasure hunt was still ongoing.
The participant who had spoken earlier scolded the child.
“Tch. You bug can’t even speak without a tongue!”
Can someone with no teeth call a tongueless child a bug?
I wondered briefly, but decided it was better not to deal with them and went back outside, climbing the stairs. My weak footsteps echoed behind me.
[Hmph…]
Had the child been hurt by what was said earlier?
“Don’t be upset.”
I hesitated briefly, then spoke carefully. I didn’t even know why I was doing it.
“They have no teeth… and even if they had a tongue, what good would it do? They still say such cruel things.”
Even though it was a ghost, seeing a child sulking made me feel uneasy.
[Hmph!]
[Hmph, hmph!!]
Jumping up and down, it seemed the child had regained some energy.
[You’re back.]
[Now, shall another participant go hide it? Please cooperate for a quick start! Hehe.]
I returned to the room and took a corner seat. This was the only time to breathe until the game began.
“Not even a few hours have passed in reality, but I’m so tired.”
I had clenched my teeth and focused just to survive. No wonder I was exhausted.
Running down to the basement and back had my legs shaking. At least the next game wasn’t tag, so that was a small relief.
“Hey.”
Why was this one approaching again?
The child squatted next to me and lifted their head.
The boy who was forced to meet our gazes simultaneously frowned.
“Your hand.”
My hand?
“Why aren’t you stopping the bleeding?”
Following his gaze, I looked at my left hand. Blood kept flowing, soaking the jeans I was wearing.
“It’s amazing I haven’t passed out from blood loss.”
I felt dizzy, though.
Perhaps the ghosts weren’t letting anyone faint since the game was ongoing.
I stared blankly at my fingers, lost in thought, when I heard a sigh.
“You’re completely out of your mind.”
Not completely, but almost.
“Those who come here endure like you, then eventually die or go mad.”
“……But earlier, you said you didn’t know anything?”
“That was the answer to whether those things are human or not.”
The boy squatted next to me. Looking around as if searching for something, he loosened his uniform necktie.
Muttering to himself, he wrapped my wounded hand with the navy tie.
It felt strange.
“Ugh, the tie is too thick; it won’t stay. Is it because your hands are small since you’re a kid?”
“You’re a kid too.”
“What are you talking about? You’re younger than me.”
Though wearing a school uniform, maybe he wasn’t actually a student?
Seeing his serious expression, I shut my mouth. Sensitive to hierarchy… maybe he was an old soul or a ghost.
[Hmph!]
The child raised their hand, then tore the bottom of the black cloth they were wearing.
[Hmph?]
The way the torn fabric fluttered seemed like they were presenting it to me.
“Wow, more useful than I thought.”
Apparently, yes.
The boy calmly took the cloth from the child and began stopping the bleeding on my fingers.
“I know it’s a ridiculous advice in this situation, but take care of yourself while doing it.”
“Really ridiculous advice…”
“Even when I try to help, you complain.”
He had a sharp tongue. He reminded me of Cho Hae.
‘Maybe because he’s the same age as Cho Hae?’
At first, I had only felt uneasy, but now it wasn’t so bad. My tension eased. I knew I shouldn’t relax, but I did anyway.
“How long have you been here?”
“I said I don’t know.”
“When will you escape?”
I felt his gaze. Not meeting it, I only looked at my hand wrapped in cloth.
“You don’t seem anxious.”
That must be why he let me win in the earlier guessing game.
‘The guessing game only leaves one survivor, so why is he fine?’
Strange. Maybe he’s pretending to be human to make me let my guard down, and he’s really a ghost planning something else.
I slowly raised my head. The boy frowned as if in disbelief.
“You won’t leave.”
“Why not?”
“True, you’re not anxious, but I’ve never wanted to leave in the first place.”
What did that mean? Was he brainwashed?
“Get up. It’s almost time for the treasure hunt.”
The participant who had gone to hide treasure returned. All remaining participants seemed to have hidden theirs while we talked.
The boy stood up. He looked like he was about to leave, so I hurriedly grabbed his sleeve.
“You?”
“I have somewhere to go.”
“Where? Isn’t it safer to wait here? Let’s go together for the next game. I’ll…!”
[Hmph!]
The child raised a hand as a warning. Perhaps pointing at the radio to caution us about the next game.
“I don’t know what you were going to say, but…”
The boy glanced at the child, then let go of my hand.
Ah. I felt a huge sense of loss.
“There’s no reason for me to stick with you, right?”
“……That’s true.”
Maybe it was because I met someone who could understand me in this cruel situation.
It was a ridiculous suggestion. If I believed in him enough to follow, what was he trusting in me?
“Well, maybe we’ll meet again if there’s a chance.”
As I headed to the door to proceed with the treasure hunt, the boy followed quietly and whispered:
“For some reason, I feel like we’ll meet again.”
Whether he meant the next game or after escaping here, I didn’t know.
“I feel the same.”
Strangely, I felt certain of it. He looked at me for a long moment, then smiled.
‘Ah, he reminds me of Cho Hae.’
Not in appearance, but in feeling.
The boy swiftly left the room, escaping first.
‘Focus. Don’t get carried away thinking I want to see Cho Hae.’
I slapped both cheeks, opened my eyes wide, and braced myself. My body was still tired, but I felt a little more alive.
[Now, let’s begin the treasure hunt!]
[Find the most beautiful treasure in the world!]
Now it was time to search for the creepiest treasure in the world.
