Chapter 424

Chapter 424

Thud–!

When I opened the door, the floor in front of me gradually collapsed, as if it had been waiting for me. I had to stop abruptly–as if I was stepping at the edge of a cliff.

[OoKkeeKkee!]

The monkey leaped around as it looked behind us. Even if I didn't turn around, I could tell Dawon was chasing me.

[Choi Lee-kyung, you'll never find your way out of here anyway.]

Dawon didn't even bother to respectfully call me ‘Hyung-nim' anymore. I clenched my fist as if I had swallowed something bitter. Even if I needed to jump out of the building, I knew that I must avoid being caught by Dawon at all costs.

But suddenly, the hallway began filling with new blocks. The floor tiles turned black, and the once-red columns turned white. The previously straight path split into multiple alleys, and everything in front of me changed in real time. Dawon truly had the ability to reshape this entire mansion.

‘That isn't unexpected, though.'

Of course, that didn't mean I was giving in.

Without turning back, I threw myself into the newly formed space. As soon as I entered the hallway, yellow lights flickered on, almost as if they had been waiting for me. One by one, the lights illuminated in sync with my running, guiding me straight down the center of the path.

"Haah, cough...!" I ran so hard that sweat pooled down my back.

Numerous people stood waiting for me in the large hall I arrived at.

The moment they saw me, gasping for breath, their heads turned slowly, scanning me with an eerie gaze. The tranquility of their stares sent a shiver down my spine, but I soon sensed something off about these ‘people.’ Under the chandelier, I noticed the faint shadows of thin threads attached to each of them—just like the ones I had seen on the Shikigamis.

‘They're all dolls.'

In other words, Dawon had prepared this ‘place.'

As soon as I realized that fact, the dolls began to back away as if they were making way for me.

Dawon was waiting for me in the center of the path created by the parting crowd...even though he was behind me until a little while ago. He wore black ceremonial robes, and stood behind a golden veil. His red eyes–the very thing I used to identify him–pierced through the golden threads.

[I told you that you can't get away from here.]

Then, when Dawon deftly shook his hand, I unwillingly approached him, step by step. I was forced onto my knees in front of him; when I sat down, a beautiful melody began to flow forth from somewhere.

At the same time, dozens of motionless puppets began to perform synchronized actions. Some raised champagne glasses, while others danced with one another. The scene was surreal and unsettling.

Jingle–! Jingle–!

I was approached by the servants with bells dangling around their necks. They neatened my messy robes and started braiding my long hair with a pretty, oil-slicked thread.... Like they were preparing for a wedding banquet.

"......"

Regardless of my desires, my makeup was applied calmly. In this bleak situation, I couldn't change my expression, but I was still allowed to speak freely.

I asked Dawon, "...What happens after the banquet?"

[You'll accept *everything.*]

"You're going to erase my memories?"

[No. You'll realize that, no matter what you do, you'll realize that you can't get away from me.]

But, at that moment, I felt a strange discordant feeling.

"Jo Chan-young..."

Dawon's face had changed. He now looked like Jo Chan-young–as I recognized him from our brief meeting the other day.

I thought that even this might be a trap, but Jo Chan-young only approached me, holding out a dagger–the dagger I had used to slice through the Shikigami.

[This is your last chance.]

"......"

[The key is within you.]

His tone was rather business-like and objective, as if he were remarking on a given truth... As if the key was in my pocket.

Even after I was given the dagger, I stood there, dazed. Jo Chan-young didn't rush me. I hesitated for a long while–still doubtful of his appearance, and then gave myself a light cut on the palm of my hand with the dagger.

"Nnngh..."

The sharp sting and the beads of blood that formed felt uncomfortably real. Whether it was my imagination or not, the pain seemed more like that of reality than of something contained to the "Vengeful Ghost Memory" that I was trapped in.

‘He told me to find the key...'

Then, he wants me to dig through my body with this dagger.

‘Until the end... Haah...'

I thought I should finish this quickly and sign the contract with Jo Chan-young. Therefore, though I was quite fatigued, I held the dagger high.

And, the moment I was about to swing–

–I suddenly saw my shadow.

I stood still and lifted my head, only to see Jo Chan-young grinning widely, his mouth stretched unnervingly. As soon as our eyes met, his grin vanished, replaced by a twisted grimace, his mouth opening as if to speak.

But this time, I was quicker.

I swung the blade over the invisible threads above my head. Surprisingly, as soon as I did that, I could see the strings connected to my shadow being cut.

[Ahahah!!! What a waste!!! Seriously, what a waste!!!]

For a moment, I heard a hysterical voice screaming from above: a mix of anguish and laughter, though I couldn’t tell if the being was mocking me or enraged.

Thump–!

Furthermore, Jo Chan-young's large body, which was about to rush at me, suddenly bent over–as if the being controlling him had thrown him away.

Wary of the sudden situation, I looked around, but I heard nothing more. The only thing that remained was the summoning circle beneath my feet, flickering as it began to glow once again.

I was soon surrounded by a glare of light before I was moved into a dark space.



TL: This is as creepy as it is triumphant.