NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11
It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story 011
The situation is adding up.
———————=
The beginning of the disaster, gloomy darkness of the Earth D-rated talk show theme in the 70s America.
———————=
[Hello, dear viewers! The joy of Tuesday, the heat of Tuesday.]
[You are now watching! ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’!]
The live broadcast started.
With the lively performance of a band, the emcee in a suit waved at the audience amidst their cheers.
It was a typical American talk show.
Except for the fact that all the staff had their faces squashed, and the emcee had an old TV for a head.
———————=
The emcee explained that this talk show has different themes on specific days, but there has never been an entry on another day.
Entry is only possible on the ■ day talk show.
———————=
[Has everyone been waiting for Tuesday? So have I! It’s the only day we can see our lovely newbies, the quiz show participants!]
“….”
That fits.
———————=
The Field Exploration Team completed the answers for the main corner of the ■ day talk show, ‘Quiz’ from episode 12.
They successfully escaped without casualties during 99 explorations up to episode 110. (Including prizes)
———————=
[Surprisingly… there hasn’t been a single incorrect answer in the last several dozen weeks! Incredible, just incredible….]
Everything fits.
———————=
But in episode 111.
In the 100th exploration, an anomaly occurred.
———————=
[Will the participants still manage to get the correct answers this time?]
Bam bam ba bam!
With the sound effect, the lights shone.
Seven podiums arranged in a semi-circle.
Among them, three.
Specifically the podiums where I, the Chief, and the Assistant Manager were standing.
[Osoori, Songgolmae, and Doe
[Let’s give them a big round of applause!]
Oooooo!
Invisible audience members sent their cheers.
I felt like I was going to faint.
Could it be… maybe.
[Breaking news!]
“…!”
The emcee, fluttering with excitement, received something from the staff.
[It’s been quite a while since all the participants have gotten the correct answers, right? That period has been a whopping….]
A whopping.
[98 times!]
“……!”
[Today marks the 99th time. Ha ha!]
I survived.
‘It’s not the 100th…!’
My heart felt like it was going to jump out.
‘Right, the probability of hitting exactly 100 is actually low.’
I almost grasped the podium in relief, but I held back.
It was clearly written in the PDF of the answers for the ‘Tuesday Talk Show’ I received earlier.
– Interfering with the broadcast will lead to incineration.
Not a punishment. “Incineration.”
And this was a live broadcast.
In short, if there’s the slightest oddity, it’s death.
[Will the 99th participants continue their winning streak and pass the baton to the 100th participants? Or will this remarkable record be shattered?]
[Stay tuned!]
I turned my head.
The Assistant Manager and Chief on the other podium were lightly nodding or smiling at me without much tension on their faces.
99 times, nearly three years of accumulated safety forming a patterned horror story. They were conducting it as if they were sure it would go the same this time.
‘Deep breath.’
It’s okay.
…It should be okay.
I took a deep breath in, then exhaled.
[Then, Doe
“Y-yes.”
[Are you feeling nervous?]
“Yeah. It’s my first time participating in such a quiz show.”
[Ah, wonderful, wonderful…. Then let’s start off with an easier first question!]
A strange phrase appeared on the screen of the emcee’s head, shaped like a circular TV.
It was an unfamiliar and ominous language system I had never seen, but I was able to read it. A headache and nausea surged up but then vanished.
[Question: Choose the element that is not suitable as a component of a human.]
1. Water
2. Iron
3. Oil
4. Soil
“…4. Soil.”
[Correct!]
The quiz show went on… smoothly.
‘Though the theme’s a bit eerie, the questions aren’t unanswerable.’
Besides, the Field Exploration Team’s list of previously stolen questions from this horror story was definitely effective.
They weren’t identical, but answering them wasn’t difficult.
‘If anything, that means I’ll think more, so the chance of getting it wrong has lowered.’
[No way! Correct!]
[Again?]
[Oh, oh, there’s internal conflict. It’s conflicted……. Yes, 3! Doe
The preset questions fitted well, and everything flowed without a hitch.
I pretended to ponder deeply as I answered, trying my best to match the broadcast’s atmosphere.
‘Somehow, I must get through this broadcast well.’
Obsessive thoughts took over my head.
During the commercial break, the emcee made a remark requesting me to “come again” as I suffocated inside, while I faked interest on the outside.
Passing through the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th… 9th question.
[Doe
Finally, I could see the end of this insane situation.
[Surprisingly, the other participants are continuing their perfect streak and have answered all questions correctly!]
[Can Doe
I saw my superiors on the other podium looking at me, each giving me a slight wave or nod.
Now it was just my turn to answer, and it would all be over.
[Are you ready?]
“Yes.”
[Alright!]
The question appeared.
[Question: Choose how much blood a human has to lose to die.]
1. 40%
2. 45%
3. 50%
4. 55%
“…….”
Did they put a trap in the last question?
I took a breath.
“The answer is… 1,”
[Ah, they chose 1….]
“And 2.”
[….!]
“And 3, 4… All of them.”
[…….]
“Humans will become precarious when losing around 30 to 40% of their blood.”
[Oh.]
“So, of course, losing more would also result in death.”
[No, no… this is impossible!]
The TV brightened.
Even if I got it wrong, I didn’t think I would die.
But I didn’t want to give any foothold to this perilous horror story, so I was clenching my teeth to avoid any traps.
[So this is a double correct answer! Perhaps you might want to reconsider?]
“Not at all.”
Oooooo.
A murmur rose from the audience.
And… a faceless staff member hurriedly rushed onto the stage…?
[…Oh! I have some surprising news to share.]
[Actually, our writing team had prepared the answer to be 1.]
Wait a minute.
[Doe
Yes!! I could hear the audience’s cheers.
The emcee spread his arms wide.
[Then it’s obviously the correct answer! I will treat it as a perfect answer! Fantastic!]
“…!”
Hah.
‘Well, I lived.’
Why did I dig a self-trap? I screamed inwardly in relief, closing my eyes tightly and then reopening them.
Whether he accepted it in joy or not, the emcee came over and patted my back as if to hug me.
The warmth made it feel even creepier.
[Amazing, just amazing!]
“…Thank you.”
[Then with that….]
The emcee grabbed the microphone and exclaimed with joy.
[Surprisingly, all our participants are continuing their winning streak! Incredible!]
Boom.
Confetti burst, and cheers erupted.
Each superior on the podium wore expressions of “Well, that’s wrapping up” that could show even outside their masks.
[But the MVP who will receive the grand prize is just one person. That is….]
As the drum roll continued…
The emcee pointed.
[It’s Doe
Waaaaaaa!
The band played raucous celebratory sounds.
[Congratulations! Here’s your prize!]
“Thank, you.”
I took the small gift box handed to me by the emcee.
I felt joy. Of course, not because I received something.
‘Finally, it’s over.’
As soon as the camera goes off, I can leave.
‘Please, let’s go.’
While picturing myself returning to the office in the building of 21st-century Seoul, my heart regained its calm.
[Sadly, it’s time to wrap up the Tuesday Quiz Show. Tomorrow, we’ll have even more amazing guests on Wednesday… Huh?]
Click.
Out of the blue.
Suddenly, the lights came on four empty podiums.
“…?!”
Standing there were four figures, looking around with bewildered expressions.
All were in suits wearing masks.
‘Company employees?’
It was clearly another team from the Field Exploration Team.
Only one, a familiar face, must be my colleague newbie.
I realized that. But…
‘Why are they overlapping?’
Is it even possible to enter a horror story like this? No, regardless of whether it is or isn’t…
‘…This is a broadcasting accident.’
Silence fell over the studio.
1 second.
2 seconds.
3 seconds.
“…….”
Something, went wrong.
The employee next to me with the zebra mask seemed to sense it too.
“W-what is this, why are the people who came first….”
[Oh no.]
It ignited.
“…!”
The silently burning zebra-masked employee didn’t seem to grasp the situation, mouth agape in shock as they collapsed like a lie.
All that remained was a pile of ashes shaped like shoes.
The camera quickly turned.
[…Surprise!]
[Here’s a sneak preview of the participants appearing next Tuesday!]
The loud band sound dulled as it played hastily.
The camera was now focusing on me.
“…!”
Damn.
Crap, crap!
Desperately, I shook the gift box I was holding in mid-air.
As if I was excited!
Boom.
Confetti fell from the air again, and the drums crashed loudly. The emcee led the audience in cheers.
[Tomorrow, we’ll return with an even more enjoyable show!]
[Then… have a good night!]
Bam!
With an upbeat guitar sound, the camera light turned off.
“…….”
It’s over.
Finished… is it,
not?
Why are we still here?
[Whew. We almost ruined the live broadcast. I’m glad it’s been handled!]
The camera was definitely turned off.
Faceless staff rushed onto the stage, and the audience lights went out.
The band also disappeared.
Entering the backstage, filled with the noise and whispers that exposed the cold steel framework.
However, we don’t disappear.
…An ominous feeling crawled up my spine.
[Joo, Doe
“…I already, have a job.”
[Oh dear! Well, our talk show application postcards are always open!]
Why does the horror story continue?
The reason is simple.
The thoughtful emcee was trying to kindly explain to the participants why such an incident occurred.
[Ah, and to the new participants!]
[You must have been scared of ruining the broadcast. It wasn’t intentional, I believe. Don’t be too hard on yourselves!]
[And don’t worry. You three will get another chance!]
The emcee spoke to the employees who suddenly jumped in, as if they were already three.
Meanwhile, the staff swept up the ashes left behind by the incineration of one person.
I felt like I was going crazy.
[We’d like to immediately offer you a chance to participate, but unfortunately, our show is live. We’ll see you next week!]
But I could just leave like this.
Please, please, let this be the end!
[Then everyone should go home… Huh?]
It was then.
Someone holding a megaphone rushed onto the stage.
Their face was indistinguishable under the stage lights, but unlike the other staff, the only identifiable feature was they were wearing sunglasses.
The figure with the megaphone was hurriedly whispering something to the emcee.
[…! Ah, this is bad.]
The emcee looked back at us.
[You see, it’s tough for me to say this… uh.]
The TV monitor displayed an emoji with a gloomy expression.
[Just now, our show was canceled.]
“…!”
[Specifically, the Tuesday Quiz Show. So technically, my show isn’t over yet, but yes.]
[The quiz corner has been replaced.]
What are you saying?
[You won’t be able to appear as the 100th winning challenge participants. I truly wish to apologize from the bottom of my heart.]
The emcee bent down all the way to the TV antenna on his head as if to express his shame.
“So… is it, is it a clear? ”
“Ugh. Ugh….”
Voices of the other team staff filled the air, mingled with confusion, fear, and panic, yet tinged with hope.
But my nape was cold, covered in a sheen of sweat.
‘No.’
This development is…….
———————=
Exploration Record #100
Started in the same studio as previous episodes.
However, the program name has changed.
The emcee explained to the confused staff that the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ has been canceled.
It seems that because the participants answered correctly for 99 consecutive times, the penalties became ineffective, and they faced disciplinary actions for the corner not being stimulating enough.
Thus, the new corner was changed to something to pique the viewers’ interest.
———————=
[Ah! Wait a second!]
The emcee’s TV antenna suddenly opened wide upon receiving a signal from the staff.
[Good news! They say they will have all of you as participants in the new corner!]
“…!!”
[Even better, it will be easier since it’s pre-recorded! Haha!]
[We’ll start filming right away! I may just be an auxiliary role, but yes, I’ll do my best for it to be a good show….]
“Wait a minute.”
Our team’s Assistant Manager raised his hand with a tense face.
“We already participated in the show, so we’ll be leaving….”
[You can’t leave before filming has even finished?]
“…!”
The TV screen that approached right in front of the Assistant Manager flickered.
[This was all written on the application postcard! No, if you really can’t participate… then there’s nothing we can do.]
“…….”
[So, shall we say you can’t?]
The Assistant Manager slowly shifted his gaze, making eye contact with me.
I slightly shook my head.
The Assistant Manager would have caught on too.
‘What I mean is that there’s no way out’ means simply being incinerated.
[You can do it, then! Wonderful.]
An ominous silence fell.
The studio was filled with the breath of the colorless faces of the employees.
I was one of them.
No, am I even breathing?
[Oh my! The tension is palpable. New programs are always this way.]
[Let’s cheer up! Doe
Is there a plausible… excuse?
Is there no convincing words?
“Yes. But I didn’t expect to be on air continuously.”
[Oh.]
“It could be a mistake, you know.”
I gripped the podium tightly until my knuckles turned white.
“Let me prepare more and come back next Tuesday….”
[Ah! It’s starting! Look, the lights are coming on! 3, 2, 1….]
The emcee murmured in an excited voice.
There was no way to communicate.
It felt as if the emcee had completely lost himself to the broadcast, as he dashed towards the camera.
[Hello, dear viewers! The joy of Tuesday, the heat of Tuesday.]
[You are now watching! The newly established corner of our talk show!]
I’m going crazy.
[Are we sad the quiz show is gone? No need! Because it’s an upgraded version of the quiz show!]
[They’ve added something on top of the quiz! What could it be?]
The emcee waved both hands reading from the prompter.
[More than anything, it’s the melody that touches the fatigued heartstrings.]
[Especially the voices! The choir, oh, how beautiful is that sound!]
….
[Haha, our band doesn’t need to feel left out. We’ve invited a master from a completely different genre!]
[A new guest is making their entrance!]
The set opens, and a rancid smell of rust, decay, and a dark, massive pig’s head looms.
[The director of the Infernal Choir, the dirty, ugly, and grand melody slaughterer!]
[That’s right. The name of the new corner is… Tuesday’s Choir!]
Hell has arrived.