I didn’t know.
From the perspective of a palm-sized stuffed doll, how immense and overwhelming a talk show set could look.
How everything feels unnaturally huge, and the pressure of being unable to blink or even struggle.
Especially.
If there were a bizarre host next to me, casting a giant shadow, with a TV for a head.
That vivid voice….
Now, let’s welcome today’s guest!
‘~~!’
The vibrations shook the stuffing inside me.
But no matter my predicament, the talk show continues.
‘The guest….’
The door opens with a flash of classic light bulbs.
The bizarre ghost story I proposed during a meeting, deemed a ‘great idea,’ opened the door and sat in the guest seat.
To be precise, the staff lifted the guest and propped it diagonally against the seat.
Because it was something humanoid made of wooden sticks.
The Red Scarecrow!
Its head was wrapped in cloth, with crude eyes, nose, and mouth drawn haphazardly in red marker.
Even that had smeared in the rain, making it look even more grotesque.
A monster that lures people into getting lost in a cornfield as vast as a city, then transforms into a creature at night to hunt them down one by one, leading to their disappearance.
Based on a famous American ghost story, the creepy tale I recommended for its fitting tone with the talk show’s atmosphere sat there.
I felt bile rising in my throat.
But there was nothing.
Because I was a stuffed doll.
I had no mouth, no stomach, no intestines.
[You’ve gone through a lot to be here today. Now….]
As the host approached the guest, the pressure shaking my entire being eased slightly.
The scarecrow couldn’t answer the host’s questions; its scribbled face stared eerily into the void, but the host expertly conducted the interview alone.
[Oh, I hear that some fleeing bank robbers recently entered the cornfield! How fascinating….]
The story of bank robbers who, trying to evade police searches, entered the cornfield, only to encounter the Red Scarecrow and end up as fertilizer for the corn and stuffing for the scarecrow.
A relatively less ethically uncomfortable yet thrilling ‘exploration record’ unfolds, adding humor and suspense.
“Wow, that’s really creepy.”
“Amazing.”
The audience, seated in the stands, watched the show with great amusement and fascination, sometimes startled or frightened, yet never losing their laughter.
Yes.
As if laughing together made even the most horrific events entertaining to watch.
Even as the interview turned toward a chilling path with innocent victims emerging, the audience cheered and reveled in the thrill.
‘They were contaminated.’
Now I understand.
These countless people were being slowly contaminated as they watched the talk show.
And perhaps, so was I…….
Maybe not at first, but gradually, as the talk show progressed.
[What a thrilling story! Don’t you agree? Oh, let’s give a big round of applause to our guest, stepping out of the cornfield and into the public eye for the first time!]
The eerie scarecrow was still just a crude face scribbled in red marker.
However, now it somehow seemed as if its eyes were watching the audience….
[Now… it’s time to move to the next segment… Yes! It started in the last episode! Do you remember this short segment, dear viewers?]
To Braun’s Friend
Let Us Know!
Wait a moment.
[Unfortunately, today wasn’t originally scheduled for my friend’s appearance, so they couldn’t come as they are….]
[But with burning passion, they’ve come to us in a new form.]
They picked me up.
Dangling in the air, my head and arms wobbled, manipulated by a giant gloved hand.
Do you see this?
It’s my friend!
The audience laughed heartily, pointing fingers, clapping, and cheering.
They began talking, holding me like a puppet, as if performing ventriloquism.
[So, what do you say, my friend? Aha!]
[We’ll take questions for 100 seconds, so please answer, everyone!]
The host eerily mimicked my tone and inflection flawlessly. My stuffed arm waved at the audience, and they laughed.
The exhilaration building up in my mind was terrifying.
[Now, let’s hear what my friend has to ask!]
The TV speaker tilted slightly toward me.
…I can’t speak.
Because I’m a stuffed doll without a mouth.
But….
‘I can think.’
This thought is conveyed intensely to the other party.
Just as I had understood the voice of my kind friend.
So….
I thought.
‘I want to stop.’
[…Ah-ha! My friend seems very nervous.]
[But now, the first question… Oh, how bold. ‘If you were to redraw the face of the Red Scarecrow, what would you draw?’]
‘I want to stop.’
[Cute! Oh, what a great answer. Don’t you agree, my friend?]
‘I want to stop.’
[Of course, Braun!]
I continued to react negatively to the host’s words.
But the host, as if unfazed, continued the ventriloquism, moving the doll as though I had responded enthusiastically.
And so, after 100 seconds passed.
[Ha-ha-ha! Thank you! That was ‘Braun’s Friend!’]
[Now, it’s time to bring in a new guest. But first… a quick commercial break!]
The cameras stopped, and the stage lights went out.
…….
[How dare you interrupt a live broadcast.]
My body froze.
The giant TV head leaned down to whisper to me.
[This is unacceptable. Sol-eum, have you started thinking with straw instead of a brain, like a scarecrow? How dare you try to ruin the show!!]
My head was pressed. It felt as if my brain had disappeared, squished between gloved fingers gripping my head tightly.
[My goodness… This is… so shameless.]
[As a good friend, I’ve cooperated in every way with your work! But now, Roe, you’re trying to ruin this live broadcast, which is also your job.]
[This is absolutely intolerable….]
‘There’s something I can’t tolerate either.’
[…….]
‘The audience members are disappearing and dying.’
In the blurred vision caused by the gloved hand crushing me, I kept thinking.
‘After the show, you sent thank-you letters and made sure they knew how to meet the guest.’
‘So you could use it as an entertaining story when the guest reappears.’
[Who told you that?]
[No, that’s not important. My friend, there seems to be a misunderstanding….]
The pressure of the glove pressing on my head disappeared.
Instead, it adjusted my head to puff the stuffing back up.
[Roe, my show doesn’t force anything on anyone.]
[If someone is inspired to commit serial murder after watching a movie about killers, the fault lies with the person, not the film.]
The TV displayed a crying face.
[Why shouldn’t a show prioritize joy, pleasure, and excitement?]
‘I don’t intend to persuade you.’
I thought.
‘So don’t bother trying to persuade me either.’
And then.
‘I neither want to create nor participate in a talk show that kills and burns people.’
…….
[Oh.]
The glove released my head.
And then….
[Understood.]
[Then from now on, I’ll treat you as just another menial staff member.]
It feels like my blood is freezing.
But since I have no blood, I was still able to think….
‘You don’t have the right to do that. I never signed a staff contract.’
That’s right.
We handled everything verbally.
The contract was merely scheduled to be signed soon.
‘And you yourself said you’d let me go if I wasn’t enjoying it.’
I stared at the screenless TV with unblinking eyes.
‘Let me go. I’m scared and not enjoying this.’
The old TV remained still.
‘I have no intention of listening to your persuasion or words. Just send me away.’
…….
Thud.
Braun set me back on the desk.
And what followed was….
A softened, sorrowful voice.
[I… I don’t quite understand. Think about it, Roe Deer. Why would you leave behind a joyful, rewarding job to return to something miserable?]
[Was there something about the treatment here on our talk show that you didn’t like? There’s no such thing as a perfectly ethical show in this world, Roe Deer… You know that.]
It whispered.
[Perhaps your conscience is just an excuse you found. Maybe you’re actually dissatisfied with your life as a staff member?]
[How about changing your accommodation? Ah, living in a stronger, more fabulous form fitting for the show….]
No!
‘I told you, I’m not listening to persuasion!’
If I’m not careful, I’ll be dragged in. I’m just a doll now. I don’t even have the Silver Ring. No, I must not be persuaded….
‘I’m quitting. That’s the end of the story.’
[…….]
The TV head moved away.
[I see what delusion you’re under.]
[But I am your friend, so it’s only right to grant your wish.]
The gloved fingers gestured to the staff to remove me.
[You’re fired. Go ahead, leave this wonderful studio and return to your dull and miserable life!]
[But from now on, you will have no kind friend.]
‘…….’
[Keep that in mind. Once today’s show ends, you can go wherever you want. Well….]
[That is, if you can get anywhere with that stuffed body.]
‘You’re the one who put me in this. Send me back.’
[Oh. Why should I?]
‘Obviously….’
[How amusing. Mr. Kim Sol-eum, you do as you please without any responsibility for the show, yet you told this Braun not to even try persuading you, didn’t you?]
[And now, you’re trying to persuade me? How shameless. Ah, but that, too, is a feeling consumed by the show….]
[Will you choose punishment, or will you…]
At that moment.
Pik.
A strange, thin sound echoed with a flash in front of me.
I saw something with my unblinking eyes.
The talk show studio ceiling was pierced with something needle-thin.
From above, an unusually bright blue light shone down on me.
And then….
Pik pik pik pik pik pik pik pik.
Holes continued to appear in rapid succession.
Through my vision, stuffing burst out.
‘Ah.’
Something
Pierced me,
Went through me….
[…!]
Could it be… Is this holy bombardment?
No.
‘…Am I going to die?’
If I die in this body, will I die as a stuffed doll?
At that moment.
[Now….]
I felt a hand gripping my stuffed doll tightly.
It was the host.
Perhaps trying to stop the stuffing from spilling out of the pierced doll.
But the persistent bombardment targeting this doll did not cease.
Pik pik pik pik pik pik pik pik.
My head separated and fell to the ground.
[…!!]
Thud.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble thud!
The ceiling collapses.
On the talk show stage, transparent and luminous objects rained down like meteors, demolishing only the set.
In my tumbling vision, I saw the host gripping the torn fabric and stuffing that used to be my body, frozen.
Ah.
Just as I was startled when my kind friend was torn in half.
This one, too….
***
“ – Mr. Kim Sol-eum.”
“……!”
“ – Have you returned?”
“……Yes.”
I regained consciousness in a place where I felt nothing once again.
Through the CCTV-like vision in front of me, I saw Team Leader Lee Jaheon moving again.
The difference was that the studio in view was shaking as if it had been hit by a bomb.
“ – The holy bombardment has commenced.”
Yes. I know….
Because you shot me….
“Did you deliberately target the stuffed doll I was in? To bring me back to this body?”
“ – Yes.”
“ – The bombardment will continue for 10 minutes but poses a high risk. Mr. Kim Sol-eum must leave this location as quickly as possible, ideally within 3 minutes.”
“Couldn’t the host put me back into the doll again right now?”
“ – It’s possible.”
“ – However, darkness is an extreme phenomenon without balance. A host-like supernatural being obsessed with the talk show is more likely to prioritize restoring the studio and identifying and eliminating the cause.”
As Team Leader Lee Jaheon moved rapidly like a madman, his monotone voice delivered eerie words.
And then, he casually made another declaration.
“ – Access to a safe house has also been approved.”
“…What?”
“ – The Alliance has acknowledged the current situation where escape for the emergency beacon user is impossible.”
“ – Therefore, Mr. Kim Sol-eum can be transported to a location where the pursuit by the supernatural being can be avoided.”
“…….”
I don’t know what the Alliance is, but it’s probably some alien organization.
“ – The only way to prevent unexpected incidents in this situation is to quickly leave this studio and head there.”
So… does this mean I can avoid the host’s pursuit for a while?
Then, while sorting out my situation, I might be able to find a way to completely shake off the host in the <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>.
Through the CCTV-like vision, I saw the movement of Team Leader Lizard running through the shaking studio hallway amidst loud noises.
“…Have you figured out the way out?”
“ – Yes.”
“ – While re-entering the studio to identify the location where Mr. Kim Soleum’s consciousness was summoned, we confirmed the escape route.”
“…!”
I really think I can escape this time.
Whether I go back to ‘Delusional Home Shopping’ or somewhere else, as long as I reach the approved safe house, I think I can catch my breath.
It was a strong temptation, but….
…….
I actually know.
It’s all makeshift.
‘It’s an extremely antagonistic way to escape.’
I have a strange feeling that this might lead to an irreversible decision with the host….
‘The host, Braun, could find me again at any time.’
So this escape is not a solution but merely a temporary evasion.
Furthermore….
“…….”
I recalled the scene I saw just before being separated from the stuffed doll.
The host trying to stop my bursting stuffed doll.
“…….”
Perhaps.
“…Team Leader.”
“ – Yes.”
“Team Leader, are you a type of intelligent being that gets easily contaminated by darkness?”
“ – No.”
‘…Okay.’
And one more thing.
“Even if I die in this body, will you just revert back to Team Leader Lee Jaheon?”
“ – If death occurs within 55 hours, yes.”
……Then.
“ Team Leader.”
I swallowed hard.
“Please don’t head to the exit. Go to the host instead.”
If it’s a gamble anyway, I’ll try a method I can control myself.
“I’ll find another way out.”
