[…Ah! There are only 60 seconds left before filming resumes!]
At the sound of the alert filling the set, the emoticon returned.
[Alright, everyone, let’s give it our all until the end!]
[Mr. Roe Deer, you should get back to your podium.]
[We’re starting! 10, 9, 8…]
The host resumed the countdown, looking into the camera as usual.
But it seemed like my conversation had left an impression, as he didn’t seem as entranced by the camera as before.
The groundwork had been laid.
I nodded to the host and headed back to my podium.
[It’s finally time to give your answer!]
The show had resumed.
[Will Mr. Badger become a proud member of the choir?]
Supervisor Park Minseong seemed to have come to terms with his fate, his expression bitter but resigned.
I saw him mouthing something quickly at me.
What was he saying? ‘Thanks for helping me get prepared…’ No, wait. Let me talk too!
I mouthed the words back.
– Give the correct answer.
Supervisor Park looked at me as if I were insane.
‘Being incinerated is probably better than becoming a living instrument that repeats the last thing you said before your head was cut off…’
But this was necessary.
Supervisor Park, still confused, shook his head and glanced at Assistant Manager Eun.
[Mr. Badger? You have 3 seconds.]
“Ah! Umm, yes. I’ll give my answer…”
Supervisor Park squeezed his eyes shut and shouted,
As the recorded audience murmured,
In the corner of the stage where the lights had gone out, something appeared.
The strange postcard we used to enter this place.
I remembered the conversation I had with Section Chief Lee Jaheon just before.
– So, Section Chief, you’re saying we can use that equipment to access the ghost story through an object?
– Yes. However, the equipment I have is for emergency supply drops, only for delivering small items into the Darkness.
– That’s enough. Let’s use it…
I looked at the postcard.
It quietly fell to the floor from the shadows where the light didn’t reach…
And then, with terrifying speed, a small AAA battery shot out from it.
The battery shot toward the ominous conductor with tremendous force, closing the distance in an instant.
It struck one of the silver trays.
– Throw it with all your might, sir.
The thick tray crumpled as if pierced by the battery.
The sheer physical force was unbelievable.
I recalled the description of Section Chief Lee Jaheon from .
========================
Final position : Team Leader
One of the few combat specialists in the Field Exploration Team.
Known for solving ghost stories, which usually require wit and strategy, by brute force.
??? : “Shouldn’t it normally be that the brain has to work harder if the body’s terrible?”
Conversely, when his brute force doesn’t work, it signifies that true doom is upon you.
========================
If we had tried to attack the pig-head conductor directly, I might have experienced that ‘doom’ firsthand.
‘He’s a staff member with a ‘physical exorcism works in ghost stories’ gimmick, so I thought it might work…’
The tray was almost punctured, leaving a deep dent.
Despite sweating profusely, I couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.
[Wow! Mr. Badger, that’s the correct answer!]
Normally, this would be the point where the correct contestant’s head would be ripped off and added to the choir on another silver tray.
But the conductor’s reaction to his precious ‘instrument’ being damaged…
The dead pig opened its mouth wide.
Its decaying flesh tore apart, and its jaw dislocated unnaturally.
The canned applause abruptly cut off, leaving the atmosphere confused and disjointed.
[…It seems our guest is thinking of a new way to perform! I wonder what brilliant method they’re coming up with? My heart is racing!]
The pig began to scream.
The split mouth emitted a horrific sound…
[…The contestant is waiting. Mr. Conductor, please welcome him into the choir!]
A terrifying scream rose in my throat.
What did I just do? What kind of horrific mistake have I made? Did you see the worm that spawned from the ground? How I want to sing, how I made the wrong choice, judgment, indeed—
Praise to the silver throne, death—
The band’s sound drowned out the scream.
Red spots appeared on the podium.
But I had to cover my ears. I had to block out the sound… but the band’s sound was fading away.
[Do not respect the show.]
The grand and ominous guest at the center of the stage burst into black flames and turned to ash.
It was a scene I had seen many times before.
A punishment the host carried out autonomously. In the D-Class Darkness known as the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’, this was the fate of any contestant who disrupted the broadcast.
‘Did a D-Class Darkness… incinerate an A-Class Darkness entirely?’
Something’s wrong… something’s very wrong.
All I intended was for the host to lose his temper at the guest’s incompetence, causing today’s broadcast to be cut short.
[As expected, the essence of a show isn’t in flashy guests, but in staying true to its core.]
The staff, the lights, the band, the recording equipment, the cameras.
All of them were burning and turning to ash.
Only the host’s old TV screen flickered with color, glowing brightly.
[The joy of witnessing, the thrill of communication, the excitement of unpredictable developments, anticipation…]
[You ■■■ creators don’t understand that. You don’t deserve to make shows.]
[But I do! I can make them!]
The host raised his arms majestically, like a liberator.
[Thank you! You’ve given me a new vision!]
[My mind feels so clear. Ah… yes! From now on, I’ll accept participants for the show on different days of the week.]
The host stared directly at me.
[I can tell. You have the talent of a show creator.]
[I hope you join the crew of my new talk show as well, Mr. Roe Deer, Mr. Roe Deer!]
[New participants, a new set, new music, a new season… I’ll invite you when the filming is ready!]
[It’s such a pity today’s broadcast had to end this way… but your passionate participation was very impressive.]
[Let’s meet again in the next show!]
Beyond my blurring vision, I saw the suited figure with a TV for a head wave as he disappeared…
I realized I was sitting on a brightly lit, quiet office sofa.
Supervisor Park and the Assistant Manager Eun, both bleeding from their noses and ears, were staring at me with dumbfounded expressions.
“You amazing bastard! You crazy idiot!”
Amid the shower of cheers and hugs, I slid down onto the sofa.
But that wasn’t the end.
Supervisor Park, still hugging me, quickly pulled something out of my suit pocket.
It was the ‘Dream Essence Collector’.
It was filled with golden liquid.
Unlike the time when I cleared the F-Class ghost story, this time, the color was…
“Roe, you cleared an A-Class Darkness after just two days on the job…!”