Click.

An old-fashioned television turns on.

The black screen fills my entire vision and mind.

I can’t look away.

I have to watch.

Stay tuned!

A special advertisement 

just for you

is now

airing.

A lively and classical orchestral background music plays.

And then, a black-and-white video appears.

Starring: Kim Sol-eum

A weary young professional in their late 20s, dressed in a black suit.

Sometimes, they sit in the office, writing documents with a bare face,

sometimes, they wear a bizarre horned mask

barely escaping life-threatening dangers while being chased by horrors in ghost stories…

Me.

Are you feeling depressed?

Are you exhausted?

Are you suffering from exhausting work, verbal abuse, and office politics?

Is your daily life filled with anxiety, where you trust no one and don’t know when you might die?

At times like that, you should sit in front of the TV and watch something new and entertaining!

Returning home to my apartment, I sit in front of the TV and blankly stare at the screen.

A children's cartoon I watched to soothe my fear.

But, as expected of children’s content, the videos were short and ended quickly.

With hollow eyes, I sat there blankly for a while before heading to my room.

And then, I try to sleep, but sleep does not come.

Are you afraid of the show ending while you were watching?

Are you afraid of tomorrow coming?

Do you dread returning to a job that is miserable, unsuitable for you, and filled with anxiety and suffering every single day?

Whenever your thoughts deepen, does it become painful and frightening, with no other choices left?

Are you enduring the discomfort, convincing yourself that this path must be the right one?

……

I, I…

For someone like you!

Wait, don’t be alarmed, and take a deep breath.

The perfect solution,

A new path has arrived!

Ba-bam.

On the screen, a spotlight shines brightly on my bedroom door, and then someone dramatically enters.

A stylish silhouette, wearing a brown suit, with an old-fashioned TV in place of a head.

…It’s the host.

The answer for you!

Startled, I get up from my bed and shake hands with the host, my face filled with relief.

And with a satisfied smile, I throw the mask and briefcase out the window.

With a snap of the host’s fingers, my apartment magically transformed, revealing a brilliantly lit studio.

Smiling brightly, I stand on the stage alongside the host.

It was something that had never happened before, yet past scenes intertwined with the present, creating a dizzying and surreal sensation in my mind.

As if it were real.

The new talk show host is full of wit, charm, and humor, listening to and empathizing with all of your concerns!

If you accept the perfect offer from the one you personally invited, everything will get better.

An irresistible and charming job.

Prepare for your new life!

No.

No, I,

I mean, I need to go home…

Oh dear!

Are you suffering from the dreadful burden of homesickness?

The screen turns back.

And once again, it reflects me, but this time, it’s not my past self.

Now.

…Me, staring into the TV screen.

Directly.

Locking eyes with myself.

Starring: You

Reflected like a mirror.

However, the version of me in the TV is strangely contorted, wearing a sorrowful expression.

No, that’s not me. I’m not making that expression right now… Am I? Am I really making that face right now?

Stop! This is dizzying. Lost in confusion and doubt, I pressed my hands against my face.

My vision blurred.

Yet, the TV remains visible.

Subtitles appear beneath my face.

Why do you always long for home?

Do you long for the happiness of escaping an uncomfortable and burdensome environment?

Do you cry every night, longing to sleep without anxiety and nightmares?

Do not worry.

The grand talk show is waiting for you!

No.

A special piece of information visible only to you watching this advertisement:

The crew of the grand talk show have no faces.

A dream job with no discomfort or pressure of facing unfamiliar faces.

Join now!

That’s insane.

Faceless colleagues? Who would ever want that? Absolutely not…

At this workplace, no one worries about hiding themselves.

You, watching this advertisement, don’t worry either.

Relax and reveal yourself!

The one and only workplace where you can fully unleash your overflowing talent and ideas.

This legendary host has received countless applications but has graciously reserved this spot just for you!

……

An irresistible and attractive workplace.

Now, this is your new home!

No, no!

They’re deliberately using the word “home.” They know that I want to go back home. That’s it.

But what I want is not a new home. I never wanted something like that.

What I truly want is…

To return to the world I once lived in… the familiar world.

A place where I don’t have to worry about being eaten by monsters just by walking down the street.

Where ghost stories are just entertaining tales.

Where my friends and family all exist.

And let’s not forget!

Right now, there is a Silver Ring on my hand.

I can resist all of this. Resist, I can resist.

The figure in the TV is not me.

I am not smiling.

You will be happy.

In your new home.

I am not confused.

I will return to my real home. That is not my home.

I am working to return home, and this goal will never be reversed.

In your home.

The insane talk show is not my home.

The insane talk show is not my home.

The insane talk show is not my home!!

…… 

……

[Hmm.]

Temporarily adjusting the screen…

The TV screen fell.

“Hah…”

I exhaled and collapsed onto the floor.

The moment my hand touched the cold tiles of the cramped train restroom, my sense of reality returned.

No, I was sure of it…

[Understood, Sol-eum.]

The next moment.

I was standing in a cozy studio.

No, this place was indeed a studio.

However, this small and cozy space had no audience yet, only two comfortable single seats placed facing each other.

And extending a hand toward me with a serious demeanor was the TV-headed host.

[Oh dear, you seem quite tense… Why don’t you take a seat? Fix your clothes, wipe off the blood. And let’s have a more comfortable conversation…]

[It seems the advertisement was too stimulating for my friend here, leaving him quite shaken.]

……,

A soft piano melody flows.

[Sol-eum, you have no prior experience in media, and I may have been too harsh. Let’s take a moment…]

As the host gestures, a steaming cup suddenly appears on the table between the seats.

…It’s hot chocolate.

[Ah, did you remember? It’s the drink I always recommended to Roe whenever he was exhausted. Hot chocolate! A tired body needs something warm and comforting, don’t you think…]

A smiling emoticon appears on the TV face, and its antenna slightly rises.

As if it were slightly excited.

Then, it busily adds marshmallows into the cup and stirs them.

[Still, this is the first time I’m serving you directly. With a body like yours, you must be used to relying on others for such things.]

“……”

[In that state, there were so many things I couldn’t do for you. Now, let’s take a little break…]

Following the polite guidance, I naturally found myself sitting in the chair.

…Because there was no other choice.

But surprisingly, the host remained silent and waited patiently, without any sudden actions, as I refused all forms of ‘help’ and treated the wound on my arm by myself.

He didn’t even urge me to drink the beverage.

Like a thoughtful interviewer, he simply waited.

…Through that process, my mind gradually calms down.

[Feeling a bit calmer now, Roe Deer? Take a deep breath, there you go… Let’s have a conversation.]

The host sat in the chair across from me, interlocking their fingers.

And then, they spoke politely.

[Roe Deer, you absolutely do not want to quit what you’re currently doing. Is that correct?]

“……”

I broke into a cold sweat and slowly nodded.

The TV-headed host’s antenna tilted to the side, as if puzzled.

[That’s quite strange, really strange… Roe Deer, you hated that job, didn’t you?!]

“…!”

[We’ve had so many conversations. About how much you despise this job, and how you often complained that once your goal was achieved, you never wanted to do it again.]

But that also meant you had to keep going until your goal was achieved.

If I wanted to use my wish token to return home…

[Wait a moment.]

[That’s right, Roe Deer. This is exactly the part I wanted to highlight!]

[My friend, you’re saying that you desperately want to return home. And…]

The host whispers.

[Actually, I know why you say you want to go back home, Roe Deer.]

Is there really a need for a reason when someone says they want to go home?

I instinctively tensed my shoulders, wondering what kind of sophistry they were about to utter.

I should just listen and let it pass.

[Oh, this may be shocking, but please brace yourself!]

But the host’s voice lowers, becomes quieter, and turns into a whisper.

The natural cadence of their speech draws me in, making me focus on what comes next.

[Because…]

I find myself leaning in to listen.

[Because, in truth, you don’t actually want to go back.]

……,

What?

[You know the truth, don’t you?]

[Because of two overwhelming emotions, you have misunderstood the situation, jumped to conclusions, and developed biases.]

[Fear and desire.]

What are you saying…

[Oh, Roe Deer… It’s not that you miss home or that it’s something wonderful. You just hate and fear what you’re doing now.]

“……!”

[Now, Roe Deer. Do you truly hate that the stories you enjoyed have become reality?]

[Didn’t witnessing how the things you imagined came to life excite you, even just a little? Was it really only hatred, nothing else?]

I hate it…

Rather than hating it… it’s just too dangerous.

[Danger! Ah, a traditionally convincing excuse. But let’s think about this, Roe Deer.]

The spherical television in place of the host’s head crackles with static.

[Is the ‘home’ you wish to return to truly safe?]

Videos flash across the TV-headed host’s screen.

Grim black-and-white news reports.

[War, poverty, climate crisis, terrorism, pandemics… and all the other seemingly minor yet horrifying tragedies. Hell can come for anyone, and you are no exception.]

[In any reality, we cannot choose which tragedies we encounter. Unless it’s just a show!]

That is…

[Oh, I see, deep down, you already knew. This place and the place you call ‘home’ are not so different after all…]

[Does it matter whether the monsters from stories become real or real monsters exist in reality? What truly matters is your suffering!]

Braun spreads their fingers and lists each disaster one by one.

[Sudden, unexpected death? Oh dear, does death ever arrive with a warning? It is equally terrifying no matter where it comes.]

[The peace you seek can just as easily be shattered by the push of a button from a mad dictator—fragile and meaningless…]

[In the end, isn’t all of this just a matter of your perception, Roe Deer?!]

I stared blankly at the TV.

[And perception is not truth. It’s merely a heavily distorted experience that only you feel.]

[Let’s put aside our biases and see clearly, my friend.]

That… that…

……

……

Is that… really it?

Something felt off, but I couldn’t find the words to refute it.

It sounded convincing.

But could this really… be a fundamental issue? That doesn’t seem right.

[It’s okay. Accepting things always takes time. This Braun can continue having conversations with you… just like always!]

[So, shall we take this conversation a step further? Let’s talk about something a bit more fundamental…]

Braun asks gently.

[Sol-eum, what is it that you truly desire?]

[Let’s consider this without thinking about going home.]

……

What I want is… No, wait a minute.

…You’ve been analyzing my situation this deeply?

That thing… it’s completely reading my thoughts.

How much does it know? Just how deeply has it seen into my mind?

And if it already knows all my thoughts, does it even matter what arguments I make?

Is there a way?

Wait, is it reading this thought too?

How much of my thoughts can the host read?

Could it be that it even knows about the Chronicles of Darkness Exploration I’m recalling…?

[Sol-eum.]

I feel like I’m going insane.

The fear was driving me insane. I just wanted to escape this situation…

[That’s exactly it!]

Huh?

[You’ve finally realized it, Sol-eum. The thing you truly desire deep within your heart!]

The host snaps their fingers with a sharp click.

[It’s to escape fear itself.]

“…!!”

The TV moves closer.

[And right here, there is a very quick and certain method...]

How to escape fear:

Create a talk show with Braun

[You will be comfortable and happy in my studio.]

[A passionate show creator. Your creativity and brilliance will shine even brighter when fear is no longer in the way, and I, Braun, guarantee it completely.]

[A workplace where you only need to focus on making a great show, free from all other dangers—this is the legendary host’s studio.]

The same words, but they sound different.

The thought that this is absurd… doesn’t cross my mind.

That’s terrifying.

[Shh, there’s no need to be afraid. Let’s listen to what Braun has to say…]

[Now, my friend. Would you take a look at your hand? That’s right… What do you see?]

……A silver ring worn on my index finger.

[That’s right! And what does it mean that you’re wearing it?]

……

‘That I have not been contaminated.’

It means that my judgment has not been eroded by the anomaly, that I remain rational and human in thought, possessing a strong mental resistance.

[Correct! Ah, if this were a quiz show, I would have given you a prize… What a shame.]

[Anyway, this means that your current choice was not wrong. Now, take a deep breath and know that it’s okay to relax.]

[How do you feel?]

I,

[Let me guess… ‘Braun’s words sound reasonable, so maybe trying it just once wouldn’t be so bad?’]

……

……

But…!

[That is correct!]

[Now, let’s seize our opportunity, my friend.]

Across from me, Braun adjusts his suit and rises politely.

As if showing respect to a business partner.

[One promise is all it takes.]

[We don’t need complicated signing procedures. We simply promise together, and we work together.]

……

[Don’t you want to spend a peaceful day, free from fear and suffering? All you need is to stand stronger with your friend and engage in more comfortable and enjoyable work!

[And if, by any chance, you find no joy in this… you can return to your original workplace immediately.]

……

“Really?”

[Really.]

……

[Seize the opportunity, my friend.]

[It’s now or never.]

I raised my trembling hand.

And then.

I reached out.

To the other person.

[That’s right.]

Clasp.

The host’s enormous hand completely engulfs mine in a handshake.

[You won’t regret it, my friend.]

The surroundings become impossibly bright.

Lights shine down from all directions, and the once cramped studio gradually expands, revealing itself from the darkness…….

[Now. Let me introduce it. Sol-eum’s new workplace! New colleagues! A new life!]

A neatly arranged set, a stage illuminated by twinkling lights, and above it, a classic golden sign shining brilliantly…….

[The joy of witnessing, the thrill of communication, the excitement of unpredictable developments, anticipation. And above all… this humble place that desires nothing but the audience’s applause.]

Braun’s Late-Night Talk Show

I,

[Congratulations on becoming a part of it, Sol-eum.]

I have successfully changed jobs.