chapter 9
chapter 9
Room 101, The Cursed Room – “The Bizarre Family” (3)
The sharp clacking sound echoed loudly.
Jincheol let out a sigh.
His mother stood before him, clicking her tongue.
Even now—just like when he was a child—she scolded him the same way.
The only difference—
She was doing it while standing upside down.
“…Mom, at least sit down. I told you, I did well on the interview this time.”
“You’ve said that for five years! And quit three jobs!”
He turned away.
Memories surged.
His dream of becoming a fighter.
His talent—
Fading.
Loss after loss.
Until he realized—
He wasn’t good enough.
Still—
He refused to give up.
That stubbornness ruined everything.
Relationships gone.
Dreams fading.
Only regret left.
“…I should apologize.”
He turned back home.
And saw someone familiar.
His old coach.
“Jincheol! Good news!”
“A tournament in Busan. Big one. Prize money, attention—perfect chance.”
“…I’m past my prime.”
“This one’s different. One-man-standing rules.”
“…What?”
“One survivor.”
Ridiculous.
But—
Somehow—
It made sense.
He remembered.
These kinds of fights existed.
He had fought monsters.
Killed them.
Of course he could win.
“I’ll do it.”
Suddenly—
The arena.
Crowds roaring.
Opponents charging.
Weapons in hand.
No rules.
He fought.
Crushed.
Killed.
One after another.
Bodies fell.
Victory—
Finally.
The crowd screamed his name.
His mother cried.
His coach smiled.
He had made it.
At last.
Then—
A man approached.
A suited official.
The mayor.
Ah—
The final opponent.
Gunshot.
Pain.
Realization.
“…Of course.”
Only one survives.
He should have killed first.
Too late.
Darkness.
/You have failed.
Unable to abandon your obsession with your dream, you were consumed by the illusion. You failed to recognize the abnormalities and participated in a deadly tournament, ultimately losing your life.
You neither escaped the curse nor resolved its source.
However, there is still a chance. Wait for your companions.
…
A companion has successfully escaped! All members will return safely./
Jincheol’s consciousness—
Slowly rose back up.