Suddenly, the bath solution I made by squeezing out 500ml of my own blood was being reviewed by Braun.
‘…Unique?’
I was flustered.
‘I almost turned around to check the bathtub.’
I steadied my head and asked.
"What do you mean by unique?"
“– Exactly what I said! Hmm, there are different types of bath solutions, aren’t there? Salt, oil, foam…. Yours has quite a few differences compared to that wild ginseng’s, though there are some similarities too.”
Well,
That’s probably because it’s a cursed wild ginseng, and I’m a human…
‘Of course, it would be different, wouldn’t it?’
“– Yes, it’s different. But why does yours share similarities with that wild ginseng, Roe Deer?”
"…!"
“– Hmm… Ah, I see the reason now.”
Braun smacked his lips as if he were tasting wine, and then spoke.
“– Roe Deer, your bath solution is blended.”
A blend.
Literally, it means mixing.
It generally refers to combining various ingredients in coffee or cocktails to create a new flavor…
“– That’s right. It seems to have ingredients similar to the wild ginseng mixed in…”
"…"
Is this… about contamination from the ghost story?
I recalled the security team captain.
The image of something wolf-like, twisted and tearing apart a human form, came to mind.
Is that kind of contamination and encroachment by paranormal phenomena happening to me too?
“– Contamination? That’s such an extreme and negative term. Isn’t life fundamentally a process of change? Influencing and being influenced by each other, that’s what makes it enjoyable!”
Damn it.
I instinctively looked at my body. If there were any noticeable effects of the ‘paranormal phenomenon’…
"Do you think that ‘effect’ comes from the tattoo?"
“– Hmm. It’s truly difficult to guess the origin of something that’s already mixed…”
“– Some connoisseurs claim they can identify a vineyard just by touching wine to their tongue, but I’m not the kind of pretentious host who enjoys that!”
"…"
“– Anyway, it’s not like you’ll meet a new version of yourself by next week, Roe Deer, so there’s nothing to fear!”
Theoretically, that makes sense.
‘Since I live and work here anyway, it’s probably impossible to avoid some degree of contamination by the ghost stories.’
Making a fuss over it would be meaningless.
The stronger the supernatural abilities you can use and the more of them you have, the greater the encroaching power becomes.
You have to maintain balance within that.
I don’t think I have enough abilities yet to worry about maintaining that balance, though.
‘…I’ll have to start managing this from now on.’
When I became a Supervisor, one of the facilities that opened up happened to include a place for managing this.
Once I get through this ghost story safely, I’ll have to visit it.
“– Hmm. There also seems to be something very unique mixed in… Ah, it’s all dissolved now.”
Braun, who was sniffing the scent as if to further evaluate the bath solution, let out a long and satisfied sigh.
“– I thoroughly enjoyed it!”
Well, it’s a relief that at least he enjoyed it.
Inside the bathtub, neon lights flickered a few times, as if switching TV channels.
And the shadow of the plushie, lying comfortably against the bathtub wall, danced energetically.
“– Shall we get out now?”
I walked over and picked up Braun.
Once again, the plush doll looked strangely more luxurious, but its size remained the same.
Still, Braun’s voice sounded somewhat clearer and more composed.
I covered the doll with a towel, blocking it from view, and asked.
"Are you feeling rejuvenated?"
“– Absolutely!”
“– Hmm, it feels like I’ve returned to my prime, to one of my busiest days…”
It doesn’t seem as dramatic as when the contaminated wild ginseng was used, but it looks like he’s ‘rejuvenated’ a bit.
And the moment I lifted the towel covering Braun, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before.
‘…A tag?’
On the back of the plushie’s neck, there was a piece of fabric where a tag seemed to have been cut off.
‘Was there originally a proper tag attached to this spot?’
It seemed like a part that had been cut off was restored during the rejuvenation process.
‘Interesting.’
I’ll keep this in mind.
“– Ah, I feel amazing.”
"That’s a relief."
After removing the moisture from the plushie, I placed it carefully on the towel on the usual table.
Everything is ready.
"I have a request."
“– Ah, I had a rough idea of what it might be!”
“– How could I refuse when my friend even took care of my bath? You probably want me to lend my mask to someone else, don’t you?”
"That’s right."
A rejuvenated Braun would surely be able to use more powerful abilities.
“– Alright. How many people?”
"Two."
* * *
Two days later.
Following the official notice I received, I went to work at a location other than the company.
It was an already-closed private kindergarten building, but inside, company personnel had already taken their places.
"You’ve arrived."
"Roe, you’re early!"
While standing near the uncleaned entrance of the kindergarten, the team members soon arrived.
"Please, let it be those bastards who die instead of us."
"Please… only this time..."
"…"
Thank you for speaking in such a low voice.
But honestly, even if someone heard it, it probably wouldn’t matter, because everyone had the same expression.
"Roe, Roe! Do you see that person over there with the rabbit foot? That’s an item that’s supposed to bring good luck."
"Does it really bring good luck?"
"Do you think so? Someone who wore a similar item during the investigation before last got selected and sent straight to the afterlife."
"…"
"The deputy manager is right. Those items are all useless… They say the selection is ‘fair.’"
I turned to look at the supervisor, who was giving an awkward smile.
His face was pale, even though he seemed prepared, he looked very nervous.
"Supervisor."
"Yes?"
"Do you think the company would have a problem if I tried something like that too?"
"Oh, you mean coming up with a countermeasure to avoid being the sacrifice?"
"Uh, something like that."
The supervisor laughed and patted me on the back.
"Oh, Roe, of course not! Everyone does it!"
“I’d bet my salary that everyone here spent three days doing whatever they could to save themselves.”
Well, you’re certainly bold, Deputy Manager Eun…
Eun Hajae, the Deputy Manager, chuckled.
"How do you think we found out it doesn’t work? Even the ones who tried everything still got chosen as sacrifices."
"…"
"So, Roe, are you planning to try something too?"
"Yes."
After hesitating, I pulled out Braun.
"Oh, the keychain you always carry around."
"This is my lucky friend, but would it be alright if I lent its ability to the two of you as well? Just keep it a secret."
Both of them gave faint, exhausted smiles and nodded.
"Well… thanks."
"Let’s hope it brings us luck, really!"
Okay.
‘I’ve taken care of things in advance to avoid any potential gossip later’
"Phew."
“– Alright, let’s get ready.”
"We’ll be entering soon."
Like the others, I looked at the one old pendulum clock hanging at the entrance.
Tick.
The clock hand passed 8:59:56 in the morning.
“– Now, you are entering the studio.”
“– Even if you see the cameras, don’t be nervous. Think of them as starlight. You’ll feel very comfortable.”
Tick.
57 seconds.
Strangely enough, my mind was calm.
A sense of certainty about my identity.
“– Oh, you happen to be wearing a mask! Oh, that’s wonderful.”
“– That mask is now you.”
Tick.
58 seconds.
I lifted my head.
My horns felt itchy. They had a wood-like texture, but I was the only one who knew they weren’t actually wood but ■■.
“– There are other animal friends! Two of them.”
Tick.
59 seconds.
When I turned my head, I saw a badger and a falcon. They were observing the humans around them.
And then…
“– It seems no one here is stronger than you.”
I know.
I blinked. My heat-sensitive vision identified the cold-blooded animals around me.
The body temperatures of humans flushed with tension.
And then…
Tick.
9 o’clock.
The pendulum clock rang loudly with a chime.
Ding…!!
"…!"
I took a deep breath.
The kindergarten building, which had looked abandoned, had somehow transformed into a clean space with the scent of a new building.
It felt like a new building just before it would open for operation.
And I was standing in a room where toys were neatly arranged, along with the falcon… no, Deputy Manager Eun Hajae.
…We had entered the ghost story.
"…"
I slowly looked down at my neck.
It’s clean.
"Ha."
I relaxed my body.
‘I avoided it.’
The strange thickness covering my entire body, as if wearing a mascot costume, and the sensation of the horns slowly disappeared.
Even the odd sense of certainty about my identity.
“– Hmm, your brief roles end here.”
Thank you.
‘So, that’s what the mask was.’
It was such a strange feeling that I was glad it ended quickly.
Perhaps because I had designated three people and pushed the mask to its delicate limit, Braun’s voice sounded drained.
It was remarkable that he endured for those few seconds.
‘You did well.’
I reached out to gently pat Braun in my pocket….
“– No… Wait a second. What on earth is this?”
"…?"
Why is this guy so flustered?
I immediately took Braun out of my pocket.
Then I noticed something on the neck of the plushie that wasn’t there before.
…A black rope hologram.
It was the mark of a sacrifice.
"…?!"
Did Braun just get chosen as the sacrifice?
‘A ghost story resident?’
Was this possibility completely overlooked, or is this a situation I need to worry about? I was on the verge of utter confusion.
Braun started to babble.
“– What? Participate in a teaching demonstration? What are you even talking about… I interview teachers, not teach children myself. My goodness!”
“– Show biz, my goodness! You people are so dull. Stuck in routines, inflexible, and utterly lacking the charm that appeals to the public.”
“– I’m out.”
And then he flicked his fluffy hand.
And then… amazingly, the rope around the plush doll’s neck disappeared!
"…!!"
“– Trying to rope in an unsuitable participant under the guise of rules? This kindergarten truly lacks any sense of professionalism.”
"…"
‘So being deemed as non-human… really works.’
Though it feels a bit different from what I expected.
It’s clear when you see that Braun got selected, but the ghost story passed the rope to another target because the opponent refused to participate.
"…"
Wait.
"It passed on?"
I hurriedly looked down at my neck.
It was still clean.
‘Who did it go to?’
At least it’s not me, which is a relief, but is this situation really okay? Where a ghost story resident rejects the baton, and it randomly causes someone else to die?
"Roe."
Flustered, I turned my head to Deputy Manager Eun Hajae.
"Deputy Manager, just now—"
"…"
"…"
Right in front of me, as I turned my head.
"Don’t panic. Take a deep breath, slowly."
The Deputy Manager gave a slight smile.
"Now I’m going to ask you for a favor… If you can’t do it, feel free to refuse."
"Deputy Manager—"
"I’d like to do it myself, but I can’t."
The Deputy Manager smiled slightly and gave a few light taps.
"Because it’s been decided."
On her own neck, the black rope was hanging.
-------------------------------
Chronicles of Darkness Exploration / Ghost Story
[Hungry Hangman]:
A ghost story listed in <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>
Daydream Incorporation ID code: Qterw-B-191
A darkness inspired by the word-guessing game that allows no exceptions to its rules for explorers.
You can never deviate from the role assigned to you.
The psychological conflicts and fear that arise within it are exquisite.
The sacrifice designated as the “hangman” is sent up the gallows each time other explorers guess correctly about them, and is ultimately hanged.
There are no exceptions.
-------------------------------
"Well, I guess it’s a relief that there’s still time to leave a last will."
No.
“W-Wait a moment, please…”
"It’s fine."
The Deputy Manager’s smile turned into a bitter one.
"Hey… I’m going to die anyway."
"…!"
"It’s just a matter of whether you survive while I die, or we all die together."
…It’s true.
If the correct word is not guessed by the end of the game, all the participants are executed.
The hangman is executed as well.
There are no exceptions.
Damn it.
"Alright, listen carefully. If I die from an occupational accident, there are things I’ve set up to automatically purchase from the points mall."
"…"
"Just make sure the Team Leader checks it properly. That guy is surprisingly sloppy, you know."
In that moment, I realized.
This person had fully accepted the situation.
Crackle-
"…!"
"Focus. It’s starting now."
In one corner of the playroom.
An old TV flickered and turned on with static.
[Hello, ■■ English Kindergarten teachers! Today, we’re going to learn a fun game you can play with your students!]
[It’s… Hangman!]
The rope around the Deputy Manager’s neck began to move violently.
"…!"
The tangible rope coiled around the Deputy Manager’s limbs one by one and lifted her into the air.
[Today’s teacher, newcomer Eun Hajae, will lead the game!]
And then, large blank spaces appeared on the TV screen.
* * *
[Hangman! Let’s guess the word together!]
The execution began.
