Chapter 38
‘That voice from earlier.’
There was no doubt. In the tag game earlier, and now again, the blond ghost was the one who helped me.
[I was so anxious, thinking you were fighting with another participant.]
[Hehe. Thanks to your clever quick thinking, I even got to enjoy an acrobatic show! It was fun!]
Judging from everyone’s reactions, the radio’s voice and the child next to me seemed to know nothing.
Why?
Was the blond ghost an even more dangerous entity?
Or maybe… he wasn’t an evil spirit at all, but really a guardian spirit?
‘This is hard.’
I didn’t know the reason, but after the keyring incident, it was clear he wanted to help me.
Maybe he wanted something in return like the red ghost did, but for now, I should be grateful.
The child beside me stretched out a hand — probably asking for the yellow box.
“……”
I’d already taken it, so there was no turning back.
I placed the box into the child’s hand. Its short legs toddled forward.
Other children who had found boxes also began moving. All toward the lectern in the center of the room.
A radio sat on top of it.
[Congratulations to all participants who found the treasure!! You all worked so very hard, how lovely to see, hehe.]
[Whether you move on to the next room or stay and watch the remaining game, you’re free to choose!]
[Now then, shall the remaining participants continue the game?]
The moment the voice finished, screams erupted from all directions.
They were probably collecting the treasures now.
‘…I’m sorry.’
I apologized sincerely in my heart to the owner of the organs.
Sorry for causing them pain because of my selfishness.
I turned and left the room, walking past the corpse of the participant who had no eyelids, then going down.
[Ah, participant! You came right down without hesitation? Such passionate energy, wonderful!]
[You seem very immersed in the game! Hehe.]
I opened the door, and the same five seats awaited me.
The four participants I’d seen earlier were grinning, gums exposed where teeth should’ve been.
This time, they were definitely all ghosts.
From the radio atop the lectern, an excited voice rang out.
[This time, we’ll enjoy the ‘Kung-Kung-Dda Game’!]
[Sit in an empty seat and I’ll explain!]
I sat in the empty middle chair.
The moment I sat, all my fatigue came crashing down at once.
Not yet. Not yet. Just hold on a little longer.
[The rules are simple! It’s word-chain using only three-syllable words!]
[For example, if the person before you says “Ma-Cho-Yeon”…]
What?
[Then the next participant must say a three-syllable word beginning with “Yeon”.]
He said my name so naturally.
‘He really did know my name!’
Danger.
Every instinct sounded the alarm.
I tried to stand, but ghosts on both sides gripped my wrists.
Smiling wide with toothless, hideous mouths.
“You can’t leave.”
“Choyeon-ah, play with us.”
The faces of the “participants” who had been smirking at me began to change.
The ghosts at both ends transformed into Yoo Chaesong and Tak Yeonho.
And the ghosts holding me on each side became Dan Seohyuk and… someone painfully familiar.
“Noona.”
Dark brown hair like mine.
A tall figure like Dan Seohyuk.
A face similar to mine — or rather, similar to how people used to say we looked alike when we were kids.
Still, our sharp, pointed eyes were the same.
“…Chohae?”
It was the face of the brother I’d desperately searched for — Ma Chohae.
My trembling hands reached out, and he let go of my wrists willingly.
When I cupped his cheek, “Ma Chohae” leaned his face into my palm.
His sharp features always made him look stoic, but he was the gentlest, kindest little brother who adored his sister more than anyone.
“Is it really Chohae?”
I knew it couldn’t be.
A face that suddenly changed like that—
But…
The warmth of his cheek under my palm felt unbearably real.
“Yeah. Of course it’s me.”
Even the way one eyebrow lifted when he smiled — it was just like him.
Ah…
“I’m sorry for making you suffer because of me.”
“What suffering? It’s nothing. You… you’re not hurt anywhere, right? You didn’t go through anything scary or dangerous?”
“I’m fine.”
Chohae’s large hand slowly moved toward me, resting on my shoulder.
“Noona will stay with me now, right?”
His hand slowly slid upward and began to wrap around my neck.
[My my.]
[Sometimes, not only their appearance changes — they convince themselves they actually are that person.]
[It seems the original owner of that face was a little brother who loved his sister dearly! Hehe.]
Chohae wanted to stay with me?
How scared must he have been?
His grip tightened.
Breath wouldn’t come.
‘He needs me.’
Just like how I needed Chohae.
We’d been together since birth.
A world without each other wasn’t meant to be lived.
I slowly closed my eyes.
Honestly, my body had been broken for a while now — I barely had strength left.
‘It’s true Chohae is somewhere in this building.’
Even if this ghost wasn’t my real Chohae…
If I died here and became a ghost, maybe I could meet him.
“Kkugh… kk—”
I heard a choking noise.
Was that me? I didn’t know.
My vision blurred.
If only this were all a dream.
Chohae’s smiling face wavered in my sight.
Tears streamed down my cheeks without permission.
‘Chohae…’
I let everything go and prepared to close my eyes for good—
[Ha.]
A low sigh echoed.
[I can’t watch this any longer.]
A voice full of exasperation grew closer and closer.
That voice—
[Child.]
The blond ghost.
I forced my eyes open and looked toward the sound.
Behind the ghost wearing Chohae’s face stood a man.
[You figured it out too, didn’t you?]
It was the blond ghost in a military uniform.
He placed one large hand atop the fake Chohae’s head.
With the other, he covered my eyes.
[This is not your brother.]
BOOM!
A massive burst sounded — an explosion right beside me.
[Oh my!!]
[What’s all this commotion?]
The radio’s voice shrieked in surprise.
Then, in a slow, clear tone, it muttered:
[An uninvited guest?]
So the other ghosts really couldn’t see the blond one.
His hand lifted away from my eyes.
I didn’t know if he was being considerate or not.
The ghost strangling me had exploded and vanished.
Strangely, the remains had splattered everywhere — except on me.
The room was filthy in an instant.
[Did the visitor invite you, uninvited guest~?]
[I didn’t invite you, though! Strange! A participant I don’t know?!]
[Where’d you sneak in from?]
The blond ghost lifted me up.
“Ugh!”
…I correct myself.
To be precise, he slung me over his broad shoulder like luggage.
Were others seeing me floating in midair right now?!
“W-wait, hold on!”
[Be quiet and hold your breath for a moment.]
[That way I can hide your presence temporarily.]
Hide my presence?
I raised my head — and froze.
From the radio’s speaker, a long, pale arm was slowly crawling out.
‘W-what the hell?!’
It was so long.
If it lowered, it would touch the floor beneath the lectern.
Then how big was the full body?
[This is troublesome, hehe.]
[Uninvited guest, that person is my invited participant. The game isn’t even finished yet — where do you think you’re taking them?]
O-okay, breath-holding it is.
‘Hup!’
I didn’t understand everything, but staying here was definitely worse than following the blond ghost.
As I held my breath, the blond ghost’s form blurred.
Mine too.
[No, no, no! You can’t!]
[My precious participant!!]
[I prepared so many games!!]
Another arm burst out from the opposite speaker.
Both pale arms ended in razor-sharp claws.
Then, between them, black hair poured out like a waterfall.
Like a horror movie scene.
[…My game…]
[Don’t ruin my game.]
If the hair was out, the head would follow.
And if the head came out, I’d see the face—
Realizing this, I quickly squeezed my eyes shut.
‘I made eye contact with the keyring ghost and got marked. I must not look this thing in the eyes.’
It might already be too late, but it was the best I could do.
[No, no, no!!]
The louder the voice became, the more the building shook — like an earthquake.
[Don’t you want to see your brother?]
That single irresistible sentence made my eyes fly open.
And I met—
A massive eye right in front of my face.
[Found you.]
A giant red pupil, larger than my own head, stared directly at me.
I gasped—
but before I could exhale,
The reflection of me in that eye vanished.
Everything went black.
‘Then… Chohae…?’
If I could ask the blond ghost one thing…
I wanted to beg him.
Please find my little brother.
But that wish wouldn’t reach anyone.
