I stared at the wristband, cold sweat dripping down my face.
[◎ (Cheerful) Fantasyland Membership ◎]
But the words that changed from “Admission Ticket” to “Membership” didn’t change back, and the material had become strangely luxurious…
O-Okay…
It’s an unexpected situation, but it doesn’t change what I need to do.
Scan the wristband and leave.
‘Membership or not, I just won’t come back.’
“Thank you.”
I swallowed hard.
“Um… I’d like to head home now.”
The blue mascot tilted its head slightly to the side.
I stepped up to the gate machine and tried to scan my wristband.
But the mascot blocked me.
‘Please.’
Why are you doing this?
I felt like crying.
“I’m not a good person, like you think….”
G O O D C H I L D
C O R R E C T
The blue mascot’s claw gently, ever so softly, covered my wristband.
And then, a voice echoed.
To one who knows honor,
this holds value.
…!!
“Cough!”
A cough burst from my mouth.
It was blood.
‘Wh-What just….’
Could it be because it changed from a ticket to a membership?
The blue dragon mascot looked flustered at the sight of me coughing up blood. It fidgeted nervously, then pulled something from its pouch and held it out to me.
[Blue Soda Churros]
It seemed to be a snack sold inside this theme park.
“…Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
Yeah, no. There’s no way I’m going to eat it.
“But I’d like to take it home to eat.”
P L A Y
M O R E
The mascot was firm.
How firm, you ask? It even turned off the gate machine.
“…!!”
Click.
The lights went out at the northern exit, and the shutter came down.
I stood there, stunned, watching it happen.
It’d go this far?
I couldn’t make sense of what was going on at all.
But I wasn’t dumb enough to argue.
‘Do that, and I might end up like that researcher.’
That was the one thing I wanted to avoid.
For now, for now… nothing in here is immediately life-threatening. I’ll look for another way.
I stepped back from the gate.
The blue mascot watched me as I ran off, its gaze fixed on me….
* * *
“Unbelievable.”
I collapsed onto a bench in the water park locker room.
This is terrifying.
“What the hell is this?”
To summarize, out of nowhere, the mascot called me a “good child,” gave me a membership, and closed the gate shutter.
In short, I was trapped here.
“…”
Trapped.
No, wait. What even is a “good child,” anyway?
The researcher was bad, and I’m good…
Ah.
‘…Is it because I saved my teammates a few times?’
Yeah. That’s probably the most plausible explanation.
Somehow, I did end up helping people in emergencies a few times…. Is this their way of rewarding me? By letting me stay in the theme park forever?
‘This is driving me insane…’
This place is a B-Grade ghost story.
No matter how friendly and seemingly safe the mascot looks, this still means I can’t predict when or where something dangerous or bizarre might happen.
Moreover.
‘…There isn’t even any exploration record of someone staying here for over 24 hours.’
This means anyone who stayed longer than 24 hours either died or went missing.
If I were to view it optimistically, it means the admission ticket was valid for only one day. Since I’m a member now, maybe I’d be okay. But the point is, I have zero information.
‘Damn it.’
Frustration bubbled up as I tried to think.
The fatigue from the last few hours was slowing my brain down…
‘What options do I have?’
I can’t fight and beat the mascot.
I can’t sneak in and turn the gate machine back on.
‘And I’m out of coins to use the equipment.’
I used the last of them earlier when the rookie Jang Heo-un tripped and fell. In a panic, I grabbed whatever was on hand to throw as a distraction.
I pressed my fingers against my temples.
And it’s not like I have a button to call for help from the outside, so I can’t rely on Team D either.
‘What items do I have…?’
The smiley sticker? Not useful when the problem is that their affection level is already too high.
The 2x potion or 0.5x cookie? Same issue. Those are only useful when there’s an effect to work with.
‘Do I really have nothing?’
The more I thought about it, the deeper I sank into despair.
Just then, a light blinked above my head.
[Chronicles of Darkness Exploration Real Goods Box]
– Unlocked the usage rights for new merchandise! (!)
“…!!”
The black notepad—it’s the goods box.
‘Please!’
I didn’t even breathe as I immediately clicked on it.
Was it a lifeline? I didn’t care, I just needed something. Anything. Even the smallest hint would do….
Thud.
Something popped out.
‘…!’
I picked up the item, wrapped in transparent plastic.
It was small, fuzzy, and fit in the palm of my hand.
A plush toy.
-------------------------------
[Chronicles of Darkness Exploration / Daydream Inc.]
■■■■■
Good Friend
Your cute animal plush toy. It will always stay with you and protect you.
Always.
– From ‘Cheerful Theme Park Gift Shop’
(Product description on the packaging)
-------------------------------
Ah.
I remembered the words from the board game box.
‘Be the first team to ride all three fantasy attractions and win a prize!’
The first team to complete three rides at "Cheerful Theme Park" could go to the gift shop and take one of the various items as a reward.
‘Now that I think about it, Supervisor Park did mention getting a prize earlier.’
And of course, the gift shop in the ghost story theme park often had bizarre items mixed in.
‘There was even a record of all the prizes won…’
And this was one of the most famous items.
Good Friend
In the original source, it was a plush toy small enough to fit in a child’s arms. For the merchandise version, it had been turned into a keychain-sized plush that now rested in my hand.
‘So, to unlock the usage rights for this item, I had to visit the “Cheerful Theme park.”’
To anyone who hasn’t visited the Theme Park, it would just be a harmless normal plush toy. I must’ve unlocked the usage rights because I used up my admission ticket.
And the ability of this plush toy…
-------------------------------
A mysterious item that invites someone from the Reverse World* to imbue a part of their spirit into the doll, turning them into your friend.
Rarely available at the “Cheerful Theme Park” gift shop.
For detailed invitation records, see below.
-------------------------------
[Note: 이면 세계 - It’s more like ‘another face of the same coin’ than another universe/world. That’s why we decided to use ‘reverse world.’]
This is it.
“……”
If it were any other time, I would have taken enormous care to prepare safeguards before attempting this.
“Inviting someone from the Reverse World”—isn’t that the perfect opening for a chilling ghost story?
But right now, there’s neither time nor room for hesitation.
‘Let’s do this.’
I desperately needed the advice of someone who truly understood the nature of ghost stories.
I pulled out my smartphone, which was fitted with the Memorial Griptok, for the first time in a while and opened the “Good Friend” tab in the <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration> app.
Here’s what I needed.
-------------------------------
Matches (or a lighter)
100ml of water
One tablespoon of salt
A coin (must be clean)
An item related to the friend
-------------------------------
And, a quiet space.
‘This locker room will do just fine.’
Outside, there was the cacophony of water splashing and music blaring. This was probably the best spot available.
I can somehow get items like lighter, water, and salt inside the theme park, either by stealing or asking at a shop.
However, the issue lies with the last two items.
A coin (must be clean)
An item related to the friend
I didn’t have any coins left, having used them all up.
The “item related to the friend”… was included purely to enhance the ghost story’s appeal.
For example, burning a fairy tale book might summon a monster based on that tale.
‘What could I use to make it as safe as possible?’
Honestly, offering something from this theme park as the “friend-related item” felt ominous.
The entire place was a ghost story in and of itself.
“...”
After much thought, I settled on two items.
I just hoped this substitution would work.
And a little while later—
“Phew.”
I placed the torch and salt I had scavenged onto the floor in the farthest corner of the locker room.
‘It’s so creepy.’
I had acquired them from a snack truck. They were selling a menu item called “Marshmallow Roast,” and sure enough, they had both a torch and salt.
‘…They handed them over for free when they saw my membership card.’
Far from feeling happy, it only made me more uneasy.
I wiped the sweat from my face and opened the app again.
It was time to get started.
-------------------------------
Dip your fingers in water and draw the hexagram on a smooth surface.
Place the “Good Friend” in the center of the hexagram.
Put the coin on the “Good Friend’s” belly. Ensure no water remains on your fingers.
Hold a spoonful of salt in your mouth and burn the item related to the friend.
When the “Good Friend” starts speaking, swallow the salt and greet them warmly!
If the coin disappears, the ritual has succeeded! You’ve made a steadfast friend. Always cherish them and keep them close!
※ If you can’t swallow the salt, taste something strange, or if it turns to ash or blood—run.
-------------------------------
“Huuu.”
First, I drew the hexagram on the marble floor of the locker room, exactly as shown in the image.
The process was slightly intricate but not particularly difficult.
‘It’s eerily shiny.’
However, the completed hexagram looked unnaturally smooth, with no smudges, its surface glinting ominously.
After thoroughly drying my fingers on my clothes, I carefully picked up the “Good Friend” and placed it in the center of the hexagram.
‘Of all things, it had to be a bunny doll.’
I felt unsettled, but recalling how I had thought it was adorable when I bought it from the pop-up store eased my nerves a little.
As for the coin…
‘This should work.’
I placed an item from my inventory—the Silver Snake Coin—on top of it.
‘Technically, it’s still a coin… right?’
I figured using a real-world item from the alien shop was safer than risking something tied to this ghost story.
Its high price tag suggested it might even enhance the ritual’s effects, I told myself, clinging to optimism.
With salt in my mouth, it was time for the final step.
An item related to the friend.
This also had to be something outside the realm of this ghost story.
That item… was me.
“...”
I loosened my necktie.
‘If it’s something that belongs to me, then it shouldn’t belong to this place.’
A friend-related item? Whoever it might invoke, it was surely better than, say, a kitchen knife.
I lit the torch.
And brought it to the tip of the necktie.
Whoosh.
The flame leaped up, devouring the fabric fiercely and casting flickering shadows over the bunny doll in the center of the hexagram.
The shadows wavered.
Sway.
Sway.
Before I knew it, the surroundings had gone dark.
The only things visible were the burning necktie, the gleaming hexagram reflecting its light, and the bunny doll at its center.
Flicker.
Flicker.
The disorienting sensation didn’t dissolve my consciousness.
Instead, the salt in my mouth dissolved, spreading a stinging, salty bitterness across my tongue.
Amidst it all—
Sway.
Sway.
The “Good Friend,” clutching the coin, opened its mouth.
– Behold!
– I am the bearer of a million faces, the lord of chaos, the pinnacle of madness, the dream of delight and mirth, the herald of war, the progenitor of science, the lowly beast on all fours…
…!!
Too loud.
My head felt like it was splitting open.
I wanted to cover my ears, but my hands were occupied—one holding the torch, the other the burning necktie!
What is this?
– ...the desire of the crawling one, the sovereign of stars, the abyss of illusions, the mouth of wisdom, the roar of impulse, the far side of the moon…
The bunny doll in the center of the hexagram began to convulse.
At its core—the Silver Snake Coin—was burning away.
Did I use the wrong coin?
– I AM…
My head hurt too much to think.
– …a friend.
– Friend, are you in pain?
I raised my head.
– That won’t do.
The gentle, caring tone of the “Good Friend” seeped through.
– You mustn’t be in pain…
“...”
The swaying ceased.
The necktie burned completely, extinguishing the flames.
The coin that had rested atop the convulsing bunny doll had vanished.
Even the water that had formed the hexagram was gone.
“...”
Silence.
I swallowed the salt, staring at the motionless “Good Friend.”
But no sound followed.
‘No way.’
“Was it… a failure…?”
– Roe Deer?
“…!!”
A cheerful, pleasant voice rang out.
But…
– Roe Deer?
I recognized the voice.
Involuntarily, I opened my mouth.
“…Host?”
– Ah, so it is you, Roe Deer!
The CRT TV-headed host from the Ghost Story Tuesday Quiz Show…
His voice was coming from the doll.
– Nice to meet you, my friend!
