Chapter 35
Dan Seohyeok stared blankly at the motorcycle that had disappeared at lightning speed.
“What on earth is that kid thinking, being so reckless?”
Did they even realize how terrifying and dangerous ghosts could be?
So far, they’d only survived because of luck!
“Damn it!”
Irritated, Dan Seohyeok pulled out his phone and called someone.
This time, he couldn’t catch up because he hadn’t gained his abilities yet. In times like this, he had no choice but to ask someone who had always helped him.
-Hello?
The call was answered. It was Tak Yeonho. His voice was groggy, half-asleep since it was the middle of the night.
“Sorry for calling so late. I need to ask something.”
-No, it’s fine. What’s up?
“Do you know how to summon the quick-service ghost I mentioned at lunch earlier?”
-Quick service? Ah, the one that supposedly delivers to the dead son… Wait, Cho Yeon disappeared?!
He looked dim, but his wits were surprisingly sharp. That was why Seohyeok kept him around.
“He literally rode that motorcycle and vanished right before my eyes.”
-My goodness!
Yeonho must have fully woken up because his voice was now clearer.
-Did the urban legend community ghost tell you that summoning the quick-service ghost was the method? No, that’s not important. Wait a second!
He seemed busy, quickly getting up and turning on his computer.
While waiting for the information Yeonho was bringing, Dan Seohyeok leaned against the wall.
Yeonho was always dramatic, but his extensive knowledge about ghosts and urban legends made him a constant help. That was why Seohyeok decided to reach out again.
…How did Macho-Yeon even know Tak Yeonho?
‘It’s a lie that he just happened to know him.’
Macho-Yeon wasn’t particularly good at lying. He could smile casually while speaking but would skillfully avoid eye contact.
That had always bothered Seohyeok. He always seemed to know something but would hide it.
‘Since I started regressing, I’ve never once seen Macho-Yeon before.’
Whether it was by ghosts or a simple accident, Seohyeok would regress upon death. At first, he had agonized over it, thinking it was some kind of curse. The fear and pain of death never got easier.
‘After repeating it several times, I gave up.’
The regression points were unpredictable. Last time, it had been a water ghost in a reservoir that drowned him, and he woke up in Eden Villa.
Eden Villa.
It was the place he had barely survived once by finding an empty house, and he had never gone back.
‘I thought hiding meant finding an empty house.’
Who would’ve thought to distract the ghost and hide in the elevator instead?
“……”
Macho-Yeon was strange. Completely unpredictable.
The same situations didn’t always occur after regression. But the refreshing changes Macho-Yeon brought were new.
The way he escaped Eden Villa, risking his life to face ghosts but still refusing to give up on finding his younger sibling.
The first day Seohyeok had regressed, he had lost hope in his parents after being brutally killed by ghosts.
‘He didn’t want to be another plaything for the ghosts, to die again.’
Even thinking about it now made his hands tremble. Ghosts inflicting torture while laughing at his suffering. He had wished for death just to end the unbearable pain.
He squeezed his eyes shut. No matter how he tried to avoid it, he ended up entangled with ghosts, just like now.
‘But how can Macho-Yeon never give up?’
So far, he had already encountered four ghosts. Judging by how inexperienced he looked, it seemed he hadn’t really faced ghosts before. Wasn’t he even scared?
Now that he had no parents, he said he was the protector of his younger sibling. Maybe he was worried because his sibling was very young.
Or perhaps, though it wasn’t asked, both had lost their parents and relied on each other? That desperation made sense.
Still, it was undeniable how remarkable he was.
‘He dies without the chance to regress like me.’
Reckless.
Seohyeok remembered Macho-Yeon looking up at him just moments ago.
“Everyone worries about their family. It’s just that each person acts differently.”
“I prefer to act first and regret later.”
A much smaller, weaker girl.
Yet at that moment, she seemed enormous.
‘…Act first, regret later, huh.’
Better than doing nothing and regretting it. How many people actually do that?
He still thought Macho-Yeon was reckless and foolish, but also incredible.
‘That’s why he gets under my skin.’
Just like his idea for escaping Eden Villa. Perhaps he would offer a new direction for the path Seohyeok would take.
Maybe this time, he could finally find his parents.
‘And that ghost who helped Macho-Yeon.’
Who was it really? He had never seen a truly good ghost before. Having been killed multiple times by them, Seohyeok didn’t trust them.
But naïve Macho-Yeon seemed to trust that ghost. Seohyeok had to be cautious; it was too careless otherwise.
‘Tch.’
-Found it! I had it written down in my computer notes.
Seohyeok snapped back from his thoughts to hear Yeonho’s voice.
-Sorry to keep you waiting. I didn’t want to waste your time.
He muttered quietly to himself, “I should have just copied it to my phone earlier.” Such a relentlessly good person. Always consistent.
-But this has a set calling time, so I’m not sure it’ll work now. I’ll send it to you via text!
“Alright.”
Without even knowing that it had been specifically found to help him.
In past lives, he had been killed by ghosts simply for being involved with Seohyeok. This life, he had even helped lure Yu Chaesong, possessed by a ghost.
Come to think of it, Macho-Yeon and Yeonho were strangely similar. Timid, yet kind, with no hesitation in helping others.
“…Thanks.”
It might have been the first time Seohyeok had said that in all his lives.
-Don’t mention it. If you’re curious or need anything, contact me anytime! I’ll check if there are other summoning methods just in case.
The call ended.
Soon after, a text from Yeonho arrived.
‘You have to call at 4 a.m.’
That time had already passed. Now Seohyeok understood why Macho-Yeon hadn’t slept and stayed at the cafe until dawn.
Seohyeok frowned, recalling how Macho-Yeon had quietly subdued a strange man who had been about to follow him out.
Ghosts were a problem, but Macho-Yeon didn’t even seem afraid of people.
444-4444.
He dialed the number blindly.
[Unable to connect, transferring to the voicemail system.]
He called again.
[The number does not exist. Please check and try again.]
He dialed the same number once more.
[The customer is currently on another call. Please hold.]
Each attempt brought a different message. How many times had he tried?
Tring… tring…
[Sa-sa-sa, Quick Service speaking.]
It connected.
[Our office is now closed. Please call again tomorrow.]
“Wait.”
Fortunately, the call wasn’t cut off.
“I have a missing item and want an additional delivery.”
[Missing?]
[All requested items have been delivered.]
Meaning Macho-Yeon had already been delivered somewhere unknown.
Biting his lip anxiously, Seohyeok asked:
“So, that means it’s difficult?”
[It’s not difficult.]
[We just need to deliver to the customer who used the service earlier.]
[Please specify the items to deliver.]
“Dan Seohyeok.”
He turned his head to the alley ahead. A motorcycle had somehow arrived there.
“Take me.”
To where Macho-Yeon was.
[Please state your relationship with the customer.]
Relationship?
Macho-Yeon was a stranger Seohyeok couldn’t stop worrying about. Someone who might help in the future.
And someone who seemed likely to get into trouble if left alone.
How could he define that relationship?
“…Like a guardian.”
He thought of the small girl claiming to be the protector while searching for her sibling.
Since he couldn’t take his eyes off the troublesome kid, maybe he was similar.
[Understood.]
[We will ensure safe delivery.]
Luckily, the system accepted it even though he hadn’t said “family.”
The motorcycle slowly approached, stopping in front of Seohyeok. He climbed on, and as Yeonho had described, the surroundings blurred past in a dizzying speed.
He had no idea where they were heading.
‘It’s strange—I’m not even getting motion sickness at this speed.’
Even letting go of his hands wouldn’t make him fall. Of course, without a helmet, falling would likely be fatal.
[We are not responsible for damage due to items falling.]
Seohyeok grabbed the rider’s sleeve again.
Soon, they arrived at a cemetery.
[Delivery completed.]
[Items are in relatively good condition.]
Macho-Yeon was here?
After the quick-service ghost left, Seohyeok quietly scanned the surroundings.
He noticed it: among the neatly standing gravestones, one was lying down by itself.
He approached it. Beneath the gravestone was a small gap. Slowly sliding it aside revealed stairs leading downward.
‘Is there a basement?’
Without hesitation, Dan Seohyeok descended the stairs.
