Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Amid Moonlit Guests 2
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Thud.
Ridiculously enough, the moment Kang Ibi stepped through the door, she collapsed right there on the spot. There was no guarantee of safety anymore, but she might have let her guard down just a little without realizing it. Maybe that's why her legs turned to jelly like an idiot.
But when she clutched her aching knee and lifted her head, every last trace of color drained from her face. Any lingering sense of relief she had felt evaporated in an instant.
"What the hell is this?"
She looked around in disbelief. No matter how much she did, the scenery surrounding her didn't change. A trembling whisper escaped her lips.
"Why did it bring me back here?"
Walls packed with gears, four identical doors, a rug marked with the number 4. It was exactly the same room she'd just fled from to escape the girl.
Ibi was so consumed by despair that she let out a near-hysterical scream, pounding the carpeted floor wildly. Hunched over on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, she finally managed to lift her gaze.
Calm down. Calm down and think.
She desperately suppressed the emotions bursting out of her. This time, she made sure to remember exactly which door she'd come through. Her legs shaking, she forced herself to stand and approached the wooden wall.
I don't know for sure yet. It might not be the same room. The layout could just be identical.
Clinging to that thought, Ibi pressed herself against the wall and began examining the gears from top to bottom, searching for any difference from the previous room.
But she'd been half out of her mind back then and hadn't properly inspected the room. Even if there was a difference, could she really spot it now?
As her hand groped along the wall, it brushed against a piece of crinkly paper. Her eyes widened as she stared straight at the rectangular sheet. She suddenly remembered that the previous room had a newspaper stuck in the exact same spot.
For a moment, she thought this confirmed it was the same room. But then she realized it wasn't—the article was different.
...Day 3.
...Circumstances exposed online regarding Son Yang's death are drawing attention.
A user on an anonymous community forum claimed to have seen Son Yang just before her death. He stated that he was a resident of Woncheon City and spotted her wandering the cafe district near Seongnok-gu.
According to the post, Son Yang was shivering from the cold as she entered a cafe, begging to warm up just for a moment despite having no money. However, the cafe owner, worried about the negative impact on weekend sales that day, heartlessly chased her out....
...Day 4.
...The director of Green Sound Orphanage in Woncheon City has been found dead under mysterious circumstances.
The director was presumed to be responsible for the recent hypothermia death of a high school girl in Woncheon City and had faced intense public backlash.
According to the first witness, the director was discovered dead in the orphanage director's office. Witnesses noted that the door to the office had been locked just before the discovery.
Police considered the possibility of suicide due to unbearable public criticism, but the autopsy revealed death by influenza.
However, the director had shown no prior health issues, raising questions....
"I remember this."
Ibi murmured softly as she skimmed the article.
"I remember this incident."
It had been about three or four years ago, right? Back then, Ibi was still in high school, too busy with school to pay much attention to the news. Even so, it was a big enough story that she'd heard about it.
But now, it was just another faded event. At first, people were outraged by the plight of the dead girl and showered the director—who had driven her to her death—with condemnation. Soon after, the director met a mysterious end as well.
With no one left to direct their anger at and the mystery of the death fizzling out, the incident quickly faded from public memory. It had become one of those events no one could quite recall anymore.
"......"
Ibi bit her lip. She felt like she'd uncovered something, but in the end, nothing had changed. She was still trapped, still being hunted by some incomprehensible vengeful ghost or whatever it was.
What does some stupid article matter anyway!
She slammed her fist down on the newspaper, tearing the cheap paper slightly. And at the same moment, a familiar winding sound started up. Click, click, click.
Next, the gears encircling the room began to turn. Even though she'd been expecting it, every hair on her body stood on end. Soon enough, the music started without fail—the slow pressing of piano keys.
Ibi glanced around. Four identical doors. Things had unfolded exactly the same as before so far, so she could predict the same would happen now.
The girl would knock on all four doors and enter one of them. Which meant she had to run.
Ibi positioned herself directly below the "4" on the rug and eyed the doors one by one.
This time, she remembered which door she'd entered first. Right side, from her current orientation. Would the girl come through that one? But going back through it would just loop her to the original room, so she abandoned the idea of fleeing that way early on.
As her thoughts raced, the music was already nearing its end again. The gears gradually slowed to a stop. Ibi backed away tensely, staring at the door on the right—the one she predicted the girl would enter.
Finally, the music ended. Sure enough, dull knocking sounds echoed from all four doors at once.
"G-Guest..."
And then came the sound of a door creaking open.
Creeeeak...
Right behind her.
"...Guest..."
Ibi felt an icy cold hand touch her back. Her whole body froze solid. She barely managed to shift her eyes toward the door on the right. It hadn't budged an inch.
The door had opened right behind her. Ibi couldn't comprehend it. Hadn't she just fled into this room through that right door? How could the girl, who must have pursued her down the same hallway, appear behind her instead?
Thinking was a luxury she couldn't afford right now. She couldn't explain it, but her instincts screamed that any hesitation would lead to a gruesome fate. The image of the shriveled, leather-skinned cafe owner flashed through her mind.
"Get away!"
Ibi swung her arm wildly, shaking off the hand gripping her back. She nearly lost her balance and fell again but managed to plant her feet firmly.
The girl was still gushing blood, one hand outstretched toward Ibi. She showed no reaction to Ibi's flailing. She just kept advancing step by step, endlessly murmuring the same words. Guest, guest.
Ibi ran again. This time, through the left door.
Half-disbelieving, but sure enough, the exact same hallway stretched out before her. She sprinted desperately, threw open the identical door, and stumbled into the identical room.
Now it was so absurd she almost laughed. Bursting into mad cackles, Ibi wondered if she'd finally lost her mind. If not yet, it wouldn't be long.
Drained of all strength, she staggered to the wall. Predictably, a newspaper was plastered there in the same spot.
In a situation like this, what good was some damn newspaper? Still, in this isolated hell where she knew nothing, it was the only source of new information. She couldn't help but read it.
Maybe, just maybe... there could be a hint to break out of this nightmare hidden in it.
But that faint hope proved unfounded—the article was just plain creepy. Unlike the previous ones with somewhat normal reports, this was something no legitimate paper would ever print.
...Day 5.
...Son Yang, who froze to death on the 1st, admits to visiting Green Sound Orphanage in person, sparking controversy.
The 1st was the day a cold wave advisory was issued. At the time, Son Yang, suffering from the flu, had been kicked out of the orphanage by the tyrannical director and left to wander the streets. Today, she returned to the very Green Sound Orphanage that had cast her out.
The director was not pleased by her visit. Son Yang knocked on the director's office door persistently to drag him out.
Son Yang said that after refusing to give up and continuing to knock, the door finally opened. And then she went inside and met the director....
...Day 6.
...[Interview] We spoke with Son Yang, who froze to death on the 1st.
Son Yang admitted to visiting Green Sound Orphanage, where she had once belonged, after her death. This action drew widespread attention. To address the questions, we arranged an interview.
The first question was whether she had really visited the orphanage. Son Yang readily admitted, "Yes," and the Q&A began in earnest.
Q. Why did you visit the director's office?
A. No particular reason. I just wanted to see him.
Q. But I heard the director didn't open the door at first.
A. That's right. But after I kept knocking, he opened it. He was even crying.
Q. How long did you knock?
A. Ten hours.
Q. I understand you received poor treatment at the orphanage. Why go back?
A. Because I'm not a resident anymore—I'm a guest now. I figured I'd get the treatment a guest deserves. But as expected... the director wasn't the type to have that kind of shame.
Q. Do you know the director is dead?
A. ..... .
Hee-hee. Hee-hee-hee. Ha-ha-ha-ha. Kyah-ha-ha. Ha-ha-ha...