A terrible stench filled the studio.
Walking into the spotlight was some creature with a pig's head, walking on two legs.
Its body was horribly emaciated.
From the dead pig's huge eyes, blood poured out.
[Just a moment, our silent artist... Ah! Now, the equipment is arriving!]
Thirteen silver trays floated down from the air, suspended by wires.
The large, round silver trays were intricately decorated with thick, delicate embellishments.
Screaming faces.
Countless of them hanging like bunches of grapes.
[Now, shall we meet the passionate participants who volunteered to join the choir?]
Lights flickered on at each of the stands.
Six pale, terrified people stood.
[Do you recognize any familiar faces from last week? Haha, will our contestants, who maintained the win streak, be able to set a record with 100 in the new segment?]
[Stay tuned! It’ll be revealed soon!]
Wow!
The audience seats were empty. Yet, the recorded sound mechanically filled the space.
[But the first glory should go to the first participant, right?]
The host stood in front of a staff member with a mole mask.
The staff member shrank back.
[Here’s the question.]
Flash.
[Which of the following has the longest lifespan?]
1 - Pig
2 - Human
3 - Rabbit
4 - Flea
“H-Human. Option 2, human…”
[Correct!]
Relief flashed across the mole-masked employee’s eyes.
Yes, if it were the original Tuesday quiz show, the answer would’ve resulted in cheers from the audience and the host would’ve moved to the next contestant.
But it was different in the new segment.
[Congratulations, Mole!]
The conductor with a bleeding pig’s head raised its bony arm and wielded a silver baton.
The mole-masked employee’s head was ripped off.
[What a beautiful harmony!]
Thud.
The headless participant’s body fell to the ground below the podium like a broken puppet.
“…!”
The employee who was now now only a head, floated into the air and was displayed on the silver tray.
Its mouth still moving, gaping.
[Each contestant will awaken their unique talent. Oh, how amazing... how amazing...]
As the pig lifted its arms, a pure, clear scream suddenly resonated from the employee’s head, rising in pitch like a wind instrument.
“H-Humans, it’s human, huuuumannnn!”
It sounded as if someone was forcing the vocal cords to produce the melody of a woodwind instrument.
[Finally, the first choir member has taken their place!]
The choir practice began. The voice of the employee endlessly repeated and resonated with the final words before the head was chopped off.
-------------------------------
<Chorus of the sacrificed> consists of one conductor and thirteen silver trays with the participants' heads.
Each silver tray holds the head of a contestant, selected through the day’s broadcast segment.
The heads on the trays produce different phrases and instrumental sounds, creating a cappella arrangement.
Most number of heads recorded on the trays were 7.
One head: causes mild headaches, anxiety, and sudden emotional shifts.
-------------------------------
If you are merely a bystander reading this eerie ghost story, you might think that with just one head left, it isn’t that terrible… Perhaps it seems manageable considering the situation.
But if you’re shoved into this insane scenario, that thought would disappear.
Just like the employee, who is now gone.
“Aaaaah! Shi… Shiyeon, Shi—!”
Incinerated.
Another light on a podium went out.
The charred body turned to ash and stuck to the floor beneath.
The remaining head was still muttering in a strange melody.
“It’s human! Option 2, huuuumaaaannnn!”
[Next up… Ah, another new face, Jellyfish! Let’s see if you can create a wonderful harmony with the contestant who just succeeded!]
[Now, for the question...]
“I don’t know! I don’t know the answer!”
The employee wearing a jellyfish mask shouted even before the question was asked.
It seemed their instinct decided that it was better to fail the quiz and face the punishment.
[What a decision!]
It was a remarkable choice… albeit a meaningless one.
[Eliminated]
Their head exploded.
It was like fireworks, with the shimmering light of a disco ball and flower petals scattering across the studio.
A mixture of sorrowful and ecstatic applause from the recorded audience filled the studio.
[Oh no, they’ve failed! Such a shame...]
[They won’t be joining the great choir!]
“…”
Right.
‘The punishment system is gone, and if you fail the quiz, you’re eliminated.’
I blinked.
It felt unreal.
That half of the people had already died just five minutes after the recording began.
And there was no way out.
The remaining three were the deputy, supervisor, and me.
[Shall we meet the next participant? Oh, familiar faces!]
“…”
I remembered something I had been trying to ignore.
...I had never seen the names of these superiors in the <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>.
Just like Go Yeongeun, my fellow newbie.
I recalled the thoughts I had when I first heard her name.
– They either dealt with the ghost stories relatively easily and quit early or...
– They died right away.
[Badger!]
Our supervisor was called first.
Park Minseong.
Standing on the farthest podium from me, the deputy’s chin went pale.
A death sentence, soon it would be my turn...
[It’s your turn to answer!]
No.
‘Focus!’
Hiding behind the stand, I punched my stomach.
The pain cleared my head a little.
‘I can’t use fear or other excuses here.’
This isn’t the kind of situation ruled by fear.
‘It’s a disaster.’
It’s the overwhelming sensation of witnessing a natural catastrophe up close.
I had been swept into an unexpected natural disaster. Yes, that’s right… If I panic here, there’s no hope.
I won’t even get to survive.
I mustn’t forget. The one with the highest chances of survival here is me!
I have to think.
‘Right.’
I have the information and items.
[Badger, are you ready?]
Seizing the moment when the host and staff were no longer looking at me, I checked if there was something I could do. Seriously, anything?
Desperately, I recalled all the things I had with me. I furiously reviewed the nature of this ghost story.
‘I don’t need anything else.’
If I can just escape.
I wasn’t aiming for the cancellation of this crazy talk show or anything like that.
Wait, wait, just stop for a moment...
Ah.
I looked up.
Right beside me, I could see the host’s back.
He was about to ask the supervisor a question.
[You must be ready! Good…]
He’s close.
‘...That means!’
I hid my trembling hand under the podium. Then I slightly lowered my body and pulled out two items from the inside pocket of my suit jacket.
A cheap sticker with a smiley face and a can bottle with a "Drink me" label.
‘Hurry upp.’
I opened the can bottle.
Then I pressed the opened smile sticker onto the can.
Quickly, quickly, hurry uppp.
“…Ah. Before I answer, can I say something to the viewers?”
[Oh, of course!]
The supervisor, pretending to look at the camera, glanced over at me and the podiums where the deputy manager and I were standing.
“…I have a family member in the hospital, and I hope someone can check on them once this filming is over! If possible.”
[Wow, how touching!]
[So, what’s the answer?]
The supervisor smiled nervously, dripping with cold sweat.
“I don’t know….”
“Wait a minute.”
I raised my left hand.
“Host.”
At that moment, while drawing attention,
I stretched out my right hand and stuck the damp smiley sticker under the host’s head, on the old-fashioned TV beneath it.
“…”
Drip.
A drop of water fell onto the floor.
Did the camera catch it? Did they notice?
No, if they had, my head would’ve already exploded.
[Oh, Roe Deer! Do you have something to say?]
They didn’t notice.
I gulped.
When I turned my head, the supervisor was looking at me with a confused expression.
It seemed they were surprised that I had interrupted the host and spoken without being incinerated.
It was definitely a gamble.
‘But there’s a reason for it.’
The host had clearly said earlier.
Even though it’s a recorded broadcast, it will be easier than before!
Haha!
In other words, the broadcast isn’t live.
‘Then, as long as I’m not being disruptive or uncooperative, I’m not hindering the broadcast.’
Simply raising my hand and making a personal comment!
[Roe Deer?]
They let it slide.
“Yes.”
I briefly glanced under the host's TV where the water had fallen.
Then, I whispered just low enough for the host to hear.
“Excuse me, my head is really spinning. Could I rest for a moment…?”
[…]
What I had just done was...
The ‘smiley sticker’–
An item that introduces intimacy when attached to a sentient being,
And the ‘Alice’s Picnic Set / Canned Beverage’—
Doubles the effect of any item.
...Though there’s still room for debate here.
Can the host be considered a sentient being?
The host was definitely not human.
Still, it must’ve some level of intelligence, right?
No, it must have some. I already bet my life on it.
And now, there’s no turning back.
What if I get incinerated for disrupting the broadcast?
I’m going to die anyway, so dying comfortably might be better.
The shirt around my back was damp with cold sweat.
The host raised his voice...
[Oh no!]
“...”
[ Is it because of your passion for the broadcast?! Well, that happens, I understand... Hmm. Roe Deer was certainly trying hard.]
[Well then…]
The host's monitor turned black.
He raised his right hand...
[Cut! Let’s take a break!]
The band stopped playing.
The staff started murmuring.
[Ha-ha, sorry. My screen became blurry. Makeup!]
Hastily, the camera lights went out.
[Please be careful while wiping it. Hmm, wonderful!]
A faceless staff member with makeup tools jumped up and diligently cleaned the screen of the old-fashioned TV.
Then, the host grabbed the makeup staff as they were leaving, pointed at me, and said:
[Ah, could you show that contestant to the waiting room on your way? They were supposed to bring me my water.]
Then, he winked at me, with an emoji face on the TV screen, and briefly flashed and erased some text.
[Take a break and bring me some water!]
“...Thank you.”
I did it.
‘For now at least.’
I staggered off the podium and followed the makeup staff to leave.
Even though filming had been paused, the ominous, grotesque pig's head still stood motionless at the center of the stage, wielding its baton.
The horrifying human heads on the silver trays continued to repeat the words in harmony.
‘Stay strong.’
Don’t look at them.
I walked across the stage, my stiff legs carrying me through the center...
[Filming will resume in 30 minutes!]
As I passed by the opposite podium, the deputy, who was standing there, quickly slipped something into my hand.
“...!”
I quickly glanced at the deputy.
I could see her lips moving.
– When you’re alone, check it.
What?
* * *
I was immediately guided to the door behind the stage.
Inside was a typical old Hollywood-style waiting room.
Except for the bizarre number of black-and-white broadcast posters stuck all over the walls like talismans.
“Thank you.”
The makeup staff nodded silently and disappeared quickly.
Click.
“Phew.”
...I’m alive.
It was only for 30 minutes, but I had delayed the scheduled death.
‘In that time, I have to do something.’
And now I had a new clue.
I immediately opened my fingers to check what the deputy had slipped into my hand.
What she had desperately tried to pass to me in this frightening situation was...
“…A button?”
It was a button of some suit.
It was also a button that could be pressed, meaning it likely had some kind of mechanism inside that would be activated when pressed.
“...”
There was only one way to find out, and there was no time.
‘She gave it to me because she must’ve thought it would help.’
I pressed the button immediately.
Beep...
...
Click.
[This is Lee Jaheon.]
“...!”
[Who is this? The call button should belong to Deputy Manager Eun Hajae.]
Manager Lee Jaheon.
The Team leader of Field Exploration Team D, who should be out on a field assignment, answered through the button.
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