A black holographic booklet was overlaid above Park Minseong’s head.
The hologram, sticky like tar, flowed down as Park Minseong scrambled and writhed on the floor.
Behind the struggling figure, a cheerful voice came from the TV again.
[Now, I will announce the new teachers who did not actively participate in the Hangman game.]
Soon, similar images repeated all around.
The problem, the real problem was...
[New teacher Park Minseong, you didn’t guess a single alphabet correctly!]
One penalty already accumulated.
Once when stepping onto the stage.
And...
One more for not guessing the alphabet correctly.
So then,
[Three Penalties Accumulated!]
The TV announced.
[New teacher Park Minseong has been designated as a permanent subject for learning.]
[You will remain at the ■■ kindergarten and will undergo endless training until you become a perfect teacher.]
The black holographic booklet covered the faces of those who didn’t guess a single alphabet correctly.
Among them, only Park Minseong’s turned bright red.
Then, it covered his whole body.
“■!!”
The Supervisor’s scream distorted in an unusual form.
“An■, ■give, ■■■■...!”
He rolled and twisted on the floor in a horrific manner.
Incomprehensible passages from the educational manual were read aloud, mixing with phrases and sobs that burst out.
Yet, no one around showed any interest.
They glanced at him briefly, seemingly trying to avoid getting involved, and moved away to wait for the next step as written in the company manual.
Finally…
[Thank you for participating in today’s mock game! Goodbye, new teachers!]
The confirmation of clearance.
“...”
“Ah, damn, finally!”
“Move!”
As soon as they realized the game was over, those who were freed from their restraints rushed out of the playroom, cursing.
Soon, even those who had completed their 10-minute penalty education spat out the tar-like holograms, clutching their foreheads, staggering but managing to get up and limp away.
Then they collided with me.
“Huh?”
“...”
“Wh-What’s going on?”
“...”
“You only have 30 minutes until the door closes! If you don’t leave now, you’ll be processed as an applicant too! Damn it!”
Then they passed by me and ran off.
“...”
And so, I was left alone.
Along with Park Minseong, who was still writhing on the floor, ‘contaminated.’
“– My god, my friend got mistakenly thought to have applied to this outdated place! Let’s leave right now, Roe Deer!”
“…No.”
“– Roe Deer?”
The game was over.
That meant...
The rules of this ghost story were also finished.
‘In the worst case, even if I run alone, I’ll be able to get out in 10 minutes.’
So...
“Supervisor... I’ll try to take you with me.”
I can hold on.
I should try as much as I can.
It worked earlier.
‘I don’t want to give up right away.’
I had just saved the person who had become a hangman by finding a tiny opening, and I didn’t want the person who tried to save them to be the one who disappeared from the ghost story in the end.
‘I don’t want to leave some side note like “The savior of the hangman is lost” on the wiki.’
‘...I can do this.’
I raised my head.
And immediately reached into the tattoo on my wrist.
: 恩主 :
From the heated tattoo, the items I had inserted before came out. The candle-making kit, apple juice, the bloodsucking knife, stickers, dozens of bundles of 500-won coins...
“– Oh, what fun item do you plan to use this time, friend?”
“I’m not using anything.”
“– Huh? If that’s the case, then what are you…”
I stuffed all the items I took out into the briefcase. Without the bloodlust bath, they fit in just barely.
Things like the bloodsucking knife that seemed about to pop out were kept separately in my back pocket.
‘...Done.’
The completed briefcase was heavy, but not to the point I couldn’t run with it.
And the remaining thing.
The empty space on my wrist.
“– You were trying to make space, weren’t you?”
That’s right.
I briefly inserted my hand into the space connected through the tattoo on my wrist and pulled it back.
“This space... the volume is about a cube with a side of 60 cm, right?”
“– Exactly.”
“But it’s irregular, right?”
“– ...! That too…”
Braun’s voice mixed with interest and laughter.
“– That’s correct.”
Good.
‘Anyway, it’s all or nothing.’
I’m sure I heard that being trapped in this ghost story forever, contaminated and unable to die, is more terrifying than actually dying.
‘Let’s try.’
I gritted my teeth and waited.
For the third penalty of Park Minseong to end.
‘Trying to grab and do something now would be stupid.’
If I make contact with someone who’s being penalized, that hologram educational manual will kindly ‘appear’ for me too.
In that case, I’d also be stuck for 10 minutes reading the book.
‘That would be the end.’
I suppressed my anxiety and waited calmly.
‘Time left until the penalty ends... 7 minutes.’
6 minutes.
5 minutes.
4 minutes.
3 minutes.
2 minutes.
1 minute...
0.
“...”
The sticky red things, like tar, that had been surrounding Park Minseong, who was collapsed on the floor, disappeared.
And slowly, he stood up.
With the appearance of a neat kindergarten teacher.
The body that had been wearing a black suit was now wearing soft beige pants, a white t-shirt, and a light green apron.
In one hand, he was holding a brown file with a red title on it.
<■■ Kindergarten Education Manual>
And the mask that had been completely melted revealed...
A brand mark on his forehead.
Sprout Class.
A soft smile appeared on Park Minseong’s completely exposed face.
“Teacher Sol-eum”
Damn it.
“Did you wait for me to finish reading the educational manual? Thank you so much.”
“…Of course, I had to wait.”
Don’t show any signs of panic, don’t show it, or it’ll be bad.
“Is your condition okay?”
“Of course. It’s better than ever!”
Park Minseong nodded gently, smiling brightly.
“…I’m glad. Shall we go now?”
“Go now? Ah... home?”
“Yes. Let’s go together.”
“Oh, I don’t have a clock-out time anymore! I’m not a new teacher anymore, right? I’ve finished reading the educational manual!”
“But you can still leave...”
“There’s no such thing though?”
“...”
“Hmm. Now it’s time for me to go to the Sprout Class and help with the preparation for the opening…”
And then, Park Minseong, with a bright expression, shouted.
“Ah, that’s right! Teacher Sol-eum, do you want to come with me?”
A chill ran down my spine.
“You don’t know which class you’ll be assigned to, do you? You haven’t read the educational manual yet. Once you read it, you’ll know. Your assigned class!”
Park Minseong extended his hand.
“I hope it’s Sprout Class. We were originally in the same group.”
Shit.
Damn it!
I took a step back as if I was thinking about the offer.
The teacher’s outstretched hand brushed through the air.
“Uh...”
“Thanks for the offer, but... I think I need to go drop this off at the exit first.”
I raised the briefcase.
“I’ve borrowed something, so I need to return it on time.”
“Teacher Sol-eum, no wonder you had all those interesting items. Did you borrow them?”
“Yes.”
Please don’t notice.
‘Please.’
What used to be Park Minseong... now something pretending to be him, responded kindly and gently, like a professional.
“Shall I ask the teachers to help carry it over?”
“It’s just a briefcase. If it’s okay, please just accompany me to the entrance... Supervisor Badger.”
Park Minseong froze.
“…”
Maybe.
“…Supervisor Badger?”
…
He opened his mouth.
“Uh...”
…!
But in the next moment.
“Right! Let’s go together to the entrance.”
A gentle teacher’s voice came out again.
“…”
“Teacher Sol-eum?”
“Yes, just accompany me to the entrance. I’ll move quietly without causing any disturbance.”
“Good!”
I turned my body and headed toward the playroom exit.
Behind me followed the ‘contaminated’ Supervisor Park, a ‘teacher.’
‘Haa.’
I moved my feet slowly.
Tap. Tap.
Right behind me, I could hear footsteps following closely.
Not the sound of formal shoes, but soft slipper-like shoes.
Tap. Tap.
“I’ll help you carry the case.”
“Uh…”
Before I could say it’s fine,
The teacher’s hand grabbed half of the briefcase I was holding.
And in the same hand, the perfect teacher’s educational manual cover brushed my hand.
Tap. Tap.
“…”
It’s fine.
No sudden jarring sounds, no overwhelming fear or terror rushing in.
‘I can get out.’
The entrance wasn’t far now.
I just had to walk.
But at the same time, I had the thought.
Is it really right to sneak out to the entrance like this?
Fucking hell.
Look at me swearing.
Maybe it’s because I’ve never read the educational manual, but it feels a bit embarrassing...
Actually, isn’t that not a punishment, but an opportunity to receive training under the name of a punishment?
I’m crazy—
Wait. Let’s not just dismiss it as contamination, think seriously about it.
This is a great workplace. Preparing for a perfect opening with polite and obedient people would bring immeasurable joy.
I have the aptitude to become the perfect teacher.
■■ Kindergarten revealed it to me!
No.
No way.
I mocked myself. Even if I get caught in a lie, I know it’s still a punishment. Let’s just efficiently give up the entrance.
That’s the right choice.
Let’s read the educational manual voluntarily here. Maybe I can ask Teacher Park Minseong to look at it with me.
No.
Don’t borrow the book.
Don’t.
Stop thinking about it.
Because the more I think, the more I’ll admit this is actually a pretty good idea—
That won’t happen!
Focus on moving my feet. One step at a time, and the entrance will get closer.
Tap, tap.
“…”
I’ve arrived.
The entrance!
It wasn’t the messy entrance I first entered, but a neat one, but I don’t want to leave.
“Now, you’ll throw this bag, right?”
I pulled the briefcase. And due to that, the educational manual that had been brushing against my hand fell.
“Shall we throw it together?”
Please.
“Sure.”
Let it work.
“Hold that part for me…”
And then, I turned my head.
The image of ‘Teacher’ Park Minseong smiling filled my sight.
He was reaching his body and hand to grab the briefcase as I suggested.
‘Now.’
I grabbed the Supervisor’s head.
“…!!”
And forcefully shoved it into my arm.
‘It’s going in.’
The space attached to my tattoo was a cube with a side of 60 cm.
But it wasn’t actually a cube in shape. It was an irregular space.
So, if I can bend it into other measurements…
‘A full-grown man fits in just fine.’
I kept my gaze fixed upwards.
Squeeze, squeeze.
The human body being shoved into the space through the tattoo made it seem like its joints were breaking...!
‘I was trying to shove the face in first.’
Because talking might affect it and make the contamination worse.
I pressed with one hand. The space within the tattoo kept swallowing it… Ah! The educational manual touched it! There’s no way I’m letting that in.
Once the last foot was shoved in, now...
Thud!
“…!”
Suddenly, something grabbed my left arm.
The fingers of Park Minseong’s right hand gripped tightly with such force, it turned white.
“Ugh!”
Damn!
I tried to remove each finger away, but it wasn’t easy.
‘I can’t injure a teacher.’
I didn’t know how the darkness would react.
‘Quietly...!’
I couldn’t even breathe. I took out the bloodsucking knife and drove it into my arm.
“…!”
The fingers were removed, and chunks of flesh from my forearm were ripped away. The pain was so excruciating that I should have screamed, but it was blocked by tension and adrenaline.
I hurriedly shoved the last of his fingers into the tattoo while hastily stepping out toward the entrance.
Thud.
The last step.
“...”
I looked up.
The bright blue sky of midday.
Behind me, the closed, dilapidated private kindergarten building stood.
The shining sunlight illuminated the weeds in the open outskirts of Seoul.
“...”
Clear.
I lowered my head.
I saw the handless form of Deputy Manager Eun Hajae’s body on the floor.
The other employees were nowhere in sight. They must have already left...
I took my phone out of my pocket.
And pressed the button as instructed.
The signal went through, and the other side picked up the phone...
“Hello, is this the… Security Team Equipment Rental Warehouse?”
The words I had to say came out with difficulty from my dry lips.
“We need equipment to contain contamination...”
Because.
“I’ve rescued a contaminated employee.”
...
...
Done.
I collapsed right there.
