It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story 034

山君님.

One of the most eerie and unsettling [Dark Exploration Records].

———————=

It seems to resemble the Jangsanjeon horror story that was popular on Korean internet, but it has a much stronger shamanistic and bizarre color.

A ghost that claims to have been killed by 山君 persistently changes its appearance and tries to lure its victim away.

There are reports that just reading it can make you feel nauseous or unsettled, leading to it gaining notoriety in the first half of 20XX as one of the [Dark Exploration Records].

———————=

It was just as described.

The printed horror story left a strange, uncomfortable aftertaste, causing me to halt my reading several times despite being someone who usually reads well.

Part of its eeriness came from the similarity to a trending horror story that felt closer to home.

Everyone probably has heard it at least once.

“A person caught and eaten by a tiger becomes a ghost that seeks out loved ones….”

The so-called Chang-gwi.

This ghost must find another victim to transfer its role to, so its soul can move on to the afterlife—what a chilling tale.

“Indeed, just recalling it is unsettling.”

However, if I think rationally, there is still a way out.

“If it’s Grade C, there are still conventional escape records available.”

Though it’s daunting, there are indeed ways to escape this darkness.

The problem is… that the method is rather bizarre, forcing one to make unfair choices, leading to psychological pain and pressure choking me.

It’s the kind of horror story meant to make readers shiver with immersion.

———————=

Exploration Record #3

A 50-year-old man who downloaded a landscape painting that claimed to bring good fortune.

The painting, drawn in the traditional ink style of the late Joseon period, had an eerie but vivid expression of mountains and mist even in low resolution, according to testimony.

After downloading it, he occasionally dreamed of wandering near the mountain in the painting, and each time he felt oddly at ease and more focused.

However, after a sudden promotion at work, his dreams began to change.

He started hearing a voice calling to him from the fog of the mountains.

It spoke of the virtue of repaying favors and walked tearfully along the mountain path, accompanied by the sounds of animals crying.

The man felt a strange chill and turned to run away.

Then, he heard a voice repeating, “You’ve been found out, you’ve been found out,” while laughing creepily behind him.

Every night, he repeated the dream of running away.

As he distanced himself from the painting’s mountain, the voices calling his name in various tones grew closer.

Then he realized he had ended up right in front of his house entrance in the dream.

Terrified, he woke up and immediately dashed out of his house, relocating to a hotel to avoid the voice chasing him, and to protect his family from getting involved.

However, that night, the voice did not chase him in his dream.

Instead, he saw someone with a ghastly complexion sneaking in through the gap in his open door like a snake.

Only then did he realize.

The voice wasn’t following him, but was trying to find its way into his home.

Result: Three family members went missing without a trace. (Six months later, three unidentified corpses were discovered at a nearby dam)

Subsequently hospitalized for PTSD, he committed suicide.

———————=

…This is how it goes.

Imagining the psychological torment of someone caught in this horror story feels like the worst part.

Moreover, there’s something even more unsettling.

‘……I’ve come too far.’

I was already in a situation where I had been lured by the Chang-gwi.

The fact that I had responded to its calls several times.

The almost fallen talisman.

This is the kind of description you’d expect at the end of a long exploration record, just before everyone meets their demise.

It means I’m in a dire situation with no way out.

‘This is maddening.’

I swept my hair back.

-Do you find yourself in a quandary, friend?

It’s more than a quandary. I feel like I’m about to break into a cold sweat.

-Oh dear. Is it because of the uninvited guest from earlier? Unwanted visitors are always unwelcome, especially in undesired locations.

-So, I’d like to offer you some advice. Would that be alright?

Huh?

I looked down at my pocket.

-I’ll turn off Doe’s lights for you!

-That way, you can quietly slip away from this place without drawing anyone’s attention.

“…!”

I recalled that astonishing ability the stuffed toy had shown at the theme park.

That peculiar ability that made my presence vanish so I wouldn’t get caught by the blue mascot.

-Quietly exit through that door and go home. There’s no better way to avoid this exhausting situation.

“…….”

Based on the [Dark Exploration Records], I had a high probability of deducing the safe escape route.

So as long as I didn’t get caught by the Chang-gwi, I might genuinely escape this horror story with ease!

‘But….’

Isn’t that a one-person operation?

‘Could it perhaps help someone else aside from me?’

-For someone who isn’t friends?

Brown’s voice slightly twisted as if receiving an unpleasant proposal, yet he still answered with a cheerful tone befitting a broadcaster.

-Well, I might could, but I wouldn’t take such a risk if I were you!

-Doe, everything has a limit, and the more you share, the less I’ll have for myself, you know?

It seems that if I shared it with others, the duration of his ability would decrease, or its power would diminish.

‘So it’s indeed a one-person job for safety.’

But leaving the kids behind is against the conscience of a modern person educated in public morals…

Besides…

‘Brown. If I can’t take Manager Lee Byeong-jin with me… we’ll have a big problem with the budget.’

-…Eh?

‘Then we can’t buy the Bloodlust Bath….’

Capitalism holds me back.

-Aah… How could that be!

-But, but if it’s two people turning off their lights, sensitive viewers will surely notice! It would ruin the quality of the cut!

Right.

‘Then I’ll look for another method.’

Of course, if push comes to shove, I should quickly send an SOS to Brown to get at least one person out.

‘I’ll try to do what I can.’

-How unfortunate! Understood.

I rummaged through my pockets.

Fortunately, some items I always carried on my commute were still intact while changing into my security uniform.

Smile stickers, Alice buff and debuff food, and even Snow White’s apple.

I just lost the vampiric fork…

‘Originally, there’s a pair.’

Sure, the knife is still there.

I pulled the remaining vampiric utensil from my opposite thigh pocket.

And was taken aback.

‘…It’s gotten bigger!’

The knife that revealed itself was no longer the size of dessert cutlery.

Delicate engravings were attached to the handle, and a very small red gem was elegantly set on top as decoration.

It was evident at a glance that it had grown.

‘Could it be that the blood absorbed by the fork has been shared with this one?’

Since they were a pair.

“…!! Is, is that the security team’s suppression weapon?!”

I didn’t answer. Let’s leave Manager Lee Byeong-jin in a state of misunderstanding.

I carefully wiped the now cutter-sized knife on my clothing and tucked it into the front pocket of my jacket for easy access.

Please don’t let me need it, ever.

“Then I’ll search this house.”

“Ah… yes!”

As I took a step, the manager quickly stepped aside to clear my path.

I stared intently at Manager Lee Byeong-jin.

“…?”

“Please accompany me.”

“Y-yes!? Ah, no. I’ve already seen everything…”

“Since you’ve seen it all, I mean for you to guide me.”

“Uh, um… yes.”

Though Manager Lee Byeong-jin seemed reluctant, he moved cautiously as he read my expression.

Thank goodness. I avoided the scenario of being alone and fainting in terror.

“This is, um… it should have been the kitchen. There’s nothing to eat, though.”

Rusty, dusty, and moldy, the old house was filled only with talismans.

It resembled one of those abandoned houses you come across while driving on a rural highway, far away from civilization.

“Did you experience any discomfort during your week here?”

“That… I wasn’t thirsty or hungry, but….”

The manager turned pale.

“When the ghost comes to visit every night, it strangely drains my energy…”

“Have you ever gone outside during the day?”

“…I have, but I found nothing but woods, and I was too scared to return here before sunset.”

This matched statements from other exploration records.

Then…

“Uh, where are you going?”

I headed towards the end of a hallway with no doors.

And stood at a dead end.

“I suspect there’s an upper floor.”

“Eh?? No, there are no stairs leading up! I’ve searched everywhere for a week, and there’s no trace of stairs….”

I conjured a remote hand.

And gripped the vampiric knife in that hand, throwing it towards the air.

Specifically, towards the ceiling.

“Gah!”

The knife lodged into a fine crack in the ceiling, with something snapping off inside.

Then, with a loud sound, the ceiling opened up, and an old ladder tumbled down.

‘Attic discovered.’

“Goodness! As expected from the security team… your perception is different from that of a regular person!”

“…….”

No, I just read the exploration records…

There’s always an attic in abandoned houses.

‘There’s a difference in perspective between someone who knows there’s something and someone who doesn’t at all….’

In any case, it seemed certain that what lay above was an attic.

‘Wow.’

It truly looked unwelcoming.

‘Walking into an open room in a ghost’s house feels like….’

But since I was already pretending to be the security team, I effectively put myself in the role of a tank. In the end, I calmly grabbed the ladder and climbed up.

Creeeak.

“Please follow me!”

Not surprisingly, he didn’t follow.

‘The security team’s impersonation will remember this event….’

I forced myself to climb up into the attic without shaking my legs, quickly finishing the search and hurriedly coming back down.

As if I were incredibly competent and had concluded the exploration promptly.

‘Phew.’

That should seem natural.

“So, what do you think?”

“It’s just an old attic. There’s nothing special….”

I lifted the only harvest.

“It was on a decrepit table.”

It was an old book that was bound in a traditional manner.

[活路]

“Way out! Could it be that there’s a way to escape written in here?!”

You read Chinese well.

I cautiously opened the crumbling old book.

Inside was filled with Chinese characters.

‘Chinese… I only managed to earn a level 2 in high school….’

-Ho, interesting content.

“…!”

Could it be he understands Chinese too?

-Oh dear, Doe. A capable host like me should be able to communicate with all beings in the universe… well, almost all.

I felt like I just heard a ridiculously unrealistic statement, but the important thing is this.

‘…Can you read it aloud to me?’

-Of course!

That’s good.

Brown’s voice briefly took on the tone of a classic broadcaster before it shifted rusty and deep.

-‘This is your only way out.’

Thud.

-‘O foolish one who stepped onto the grave of the mountain lord, entranced by the Chang-gwi! Your path is dark, and a ghost clings to your back.’

I swallowed.

-‘Do not answer, do not open your mouth. Simply keep your body clean, and endure until the full moon; on the night of the full moon, go to the shrine and perform the ritual.’

-‘Then you shall see the sunrise with your own eyes. But….’

I flipped the page.

-‘The Chang-gwi will desperately chase those whom it finds to eat. You have already been entranced by the tiger. You cannot escape.’

-‘A ghost will remain beside you, sleeping on your doorstep, at your bed’s head.’

-‘So you too must become the Chang-gwi. You must bring back a victim for the tiger to eat in your place.’

…!

-‘The sacrifice must surely possess intelligence and hot blood that flows, and must also possess the ability to speak. Only then may you deceive the Chang-gwi.’

-‘While offering the sacrifice, follow the moonlit path and find a small serpent hole.

-‘This is your only way out; there are no other paths.’

“…….”

-It ends here. Ho, fascinating indeed.

I stood frozen with the book closed.

‘……Was it something like this?’

In the exploration record, it was briefly mentioned: “A lottery sacrifice is selected and a ritual is held. The winner declined and was dragged away after being tied to a pillar.”

But looking at it directly, a creepy sense of psychological pressure pressed down upon me beyond mere eeriness.

Flap.

At that moment, something fell from the last page tucked inside the book.

“……”

A small paper business card.

As I picked it up, I saw hurried handwriting on the back.

⧻⧻ I’ll head out tomorrow.

I flipped the card over.

Ko Seon-ha

Department of History, Jukang University

Could this have been from someone who read this book first?

Meanwhile, Manager Lee Byeong-jin, who could read Chinese characters, seemed to be trying to stammer through the texts in the book.

And he suddenly looked horrified.

“Sacrifice… This means someone must die, doesn’t it?”

“…….”

“That’s right! If just one person dies, everyone else can survive!”

I didn’t answer.

The manager began rubbing his palms together with a lurching voice, his eyes darting.

“W-well, if we don’t do anything, we might all die anyway, so….”

“So?”

“If someone who deserves it dies, wouldn’t that be ok? Someone who wouldn’t have survived either way, yes?”

Introducing himself?

But seeing Manager Lee Byeong-jin looking down as he hinted made me realize.

‘That one.’

He meant the kids.

“Honestly! Just one kid… after all, if security didn’t show up, they’d all be dead anyway, right? We should focus on getting out!”

“…….”

“One of them just has to die, and the others will live, right! That’s still a good outcome, isn’t it?!”

I never expected to hear such remarks in reality.

Considering he had been trapped here for a week, feeling the fear of death and panicking….

‘Still, I can’t just agree to such suggestions.’

I cast a glance at the Chinese characters.

“Intelligent being.”

“Y-yes?”

“This book states that a being with intelligence—one who possesses it—must be sacrificed.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“However, can you consider an underage child to be a fully-fledged intelligent being?”

“Uh, uh….”

“I think not.”

I met Manager Lee Byeong-jin’s gaze firmly.

“Only an adult could be deemed a full-fledged intelligent being worthy of sacrifice. If so… there seems to be only one candidate.”

“……!”

The manager, receiving my gaze, broke out in a cold sweat, trembling as he spoke.

“T-that… um… um…”

I opened my mouth.

“I mean myself.”

“……Yes?”

“I’m the only one eligible. If you disregard the children, and you, the manager, who has been trapped here, disturbed in his mind for a week.”

“…….”

“But I don’t want to die. I’ll look for another way.”

I resumed examining the book.

After a silence fell.

“Um, I… I apologize.”

“…….”

“I brought up the kids’ lives and said such things… Haha…”

The manager sat down as if he had lost all strength in his face.

“On the first day, it was my father who passed away….”

He died of cancer, and I couldn’t even be by his side at the end.

“But my father said, Byeong-jin, let me see your face. He asked me to open the door.”

“…….”

“While I hit my head in frustration, the ghost mocked and scorned me in my father’s voice.”

The manager held his head in his hands, bowing it low.

“Every day, I’m visited once by the voices of deceased family, friends, and neighbors…!”

From his beloved uncle, to the cousin who died in an accident, to university classmates, and even an abducted neighbor child…

“Now I recognize all the dead who visit me. It’s becoming harder to keep my sanity. This could be hell on Earth.”

“…….”

Oh.

Speaking of which, the middle school kids didn’t even know there were ghosts knocking at the door outside.

Even after being here for two days.

‘Had they been standing guard at the doorway all along.’

Whether it was intentional or accidental, or if it was a ghost’s influence, it felt strange knowing that this had protected the kids’ mental state.

I nodded slowly after gazing at the manager for a moment.

“If this is hell, then we must escape even more.”

“…….”

“I’ll study this book’s content more thoroughly…”

Knock knock knock.

“…!”

Our faces turned towards the door simultaneously.

“Just now….”

Knock knock knock.

“…….”

“…….”

Hello?

The voice came once again.