Off to the Milky Way Camping Ground!

We're heading out on a camping trip! The Milky Way Camping Ground, located near Gyeonggi Province—as the name suggests—is a famous spot renowned for its stunning stars and the Milky Way that seem ready to pour down from the night sky.

It was a super hot camping spot, loved not just by camping enthusiasts but frequently mentioned across communities and SNS.

But.

The owner, who should be maintaining this beautiful campground, was currently—glug—glug—

"What's the point of the campground booming if I'm dying here~?"

From broad daylight, she was chugging whiskey over 40% proof, blowing into a bottle like a flute while lamenting her fate.

The dark office desk, without even a light on, was littered with empty booze bottles and snack bags. In this room devoid of any trace of cleanliness, she kept pouring and guzzling nonstop.

"Hehehe~ What do you think? Want a sip too?"

The owner muttered to thin air and downed more booze.

"One shot for the you who left me~ Another for our eternal love~~"

Gulp! Gulp!

"...And the last one for my pathetic self~~ Hehe."

She'd emptied a whole bottle of whiskey in no time, her face slightly scrunched up.

The Milky Way Camping Ground was always fully booked with reservations—why was the owner drowning her sorrows in booze in the middle of the day?

"Hehehe... Getting drunk makes them go away now..."

For some time now, bizarre hallucinations flickering before her eyes had driven her out of her mind. Some days, hazy, charred human shapes; grotesque spiders or bugs. Other days, skeletal fingers crawling over her skin or cockroaches burrowing into her ears.

These relentless, ceaseless visions had upended her entire life.

"Clink... Out of booze already. Without this, they'll come back..."

Luckily, passing out drunk made them vanish, so she always kept alcohol close.

"Ugh... Urp... Stomach hurts..."

She never even liked booze before, but to survive, she forced down the harsh stuff daily.

"Knowing the cause but unable to fix it~~ Living by chugging throat-burning rotgut every day... Clink!"

The reason for her torment was an illusion-grade ghost story called the Parasitic Worm.

A vile thing that hijacks the host's brain, feeds on the fear from its grotesque hallucinations.

The weakest rank, but its trait of rooting directly into the body made normal countermeasures impossible.

Parasitism itself was its rule and reason for being.

"Fucking hell... What a shitty life."

The moment she figured it out, she'd begged famous guilds and Awakeners.

Please, get rid of this ghost story. Money's no object—just make the hallucinations stop.

But.

A self-destructive ghost story bound to its host's fate. No contagion, no mass victims, so guilds and the Monster Countermeasure Headquarters paid little mind.

After all, only she suffered.

"Hic... Sob...! So I have to live like this forever...?"

Everything had been smooth sailing—why this sudden misery?

Tears streamed endlessly.

She'd cried for days, raged, lived like a madwoman—but now even that was exhausting.

Worn out by this forced existence.

"Fine... Before you kill me... I'll kill you first. Tonight for sure......"

Actually, last night she'd tried to end it herself.

No point enduring anymore.

Life was too agonizing.

But right before closing the reservation site, a group booked— so she delayed death by one day.

"Don't wanna be a burden to others..."

Guests leave tomorrow, then I go. With that thought, she downed another shot.

"Phew, finally here."

"Ooh! So this is the camping spot Si-hyun mentioned!"

Lea hopped out of the car the moment we arrived at the campground.

Fresh, crisp air. Vibrant green nature.

The girl took in the beautiful scenery, arms wide, breathing deeply.

"Suuu~ Haaa! Si-hyun! This place feels amazing, doesn't it!"

"Haha, glad you like it."

I cracked the window to check around.

'Definitely a hot spot. Clean and nice.'

Now just check in at the office and get our tent assignment.

Seeing Lea in high spirits, I decided to send her on the errand.

'She handles convenience store runs alone now, so check-in should be fine.'

"Lea, I'll park first. Head to the office and let them know we're here?"

"Umph! Leave it to this body! This body handles errands perfectly now!"

Lea eagerly accepted.

She was thrilled to spend the whole day playing with me after so long.

"Alright, let's trust our Lea then?"

"Hehe, no worries—go on!"

I patted her proud head and headed to park.

—Pat pat.

With confident steps, the girl marched to the campground office.

Knock knock!

Lea knocked boldly, calling the owner like royalty had arrived.

"Come in~! This body has arrived at the campground!"

As the girl knocked, the owner dragged her weary body out.

Creeeak—

Deep dark circles. Exhausted from booze and fatigue—anyone could see she was falling apart in real time.

"One guy and one girl, right...?"

"Umph, Si-hyun and this body have arrived!"

"Yeah... Use spot C-7... Buy firewood or snacks at the shop next door. Off you go."

The owner droned through with glazed eyes and turned to go back in.

Then—

—Grab!

The girl, who'd been standing quietly, clutched her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠collar, stopping her.

"What...?"

"Human, your eyes look super sunken. Haven't slept much?"

Lea blinked her purple eyes innocently.

The owner examined the girl holding her.

'Pretty kid...'

Captivating purple eyes. Fiery red hair. Cute, pretty face.

She seemed like a princess set for an easy life...

'Must be nice... Young, beautiful face and figure—life ahead will be smooth and happy.'

Then—snap—something broke inside, a sticky disgust surging.

I was happy until recently too. Financial freedom, purpose in life.

Now every moment is bloodcurdling agony.

—Scratch.

The owner clawed her skin hard.

'Why me? Why so miserable?'

I was happy like you. Why me?

Guilds and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠clinics dismiss it—no contagion.

Like my death means nothing.

Scratch scratch—— Hate. Hate happy smilers.

Hate you all thriving while ignoring me.

One innocent word from the guileless girl, and her psyche crumbled— it was that severe.

"Ha...?! Wh-what was I thinking..."

Snap— she came to.

Venting on this pure girl worrying for her dying self.

I've hit rock bottom.

Forcing a smile, she assured the girl she was fine.

"I'm okay... Thanks for worrying."

"Hmm... Human, you can't do that. Lack of sleep makes you groan every night like Si-hyun."

—Pat pat.

Lea tiptoed, patting the owner's head soothingly.

"Hehe, when you can't sleep, stroke your head like this! Sleep comes right away!"

The girl's bright smile made the owner chuckle unwittingly.

"Yeah, thanks. Now I can sleep easy..."

"Umph! This body will head out now!"

—Pat pat pat!!

She watched Lea's receding back for a while, then stepped back to the office.

"Talking to that kid took time... Need meds and booze..."

The drug and booze haze fading.

Hurry—before the horrors returned.

But.

"Ah...?"

Weird. Hallucinations should be back by now...

None appeared.

No cracking itch splitting her body, no bugs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠crawling under skin or in ears—

The visions tormenting her every second—gone.

"Ah... Aah...? H-how...?"

Emotions tangled fast.

Relief and doubt. Liberation and anxiety.

And finally—

"Th-the visions are gone...! Without booze...!"

Joy and tears.

— "Hehe, when you can't sleep, stroke your head like this! Sleep comes right away!"

Like a dream.

A small hand suddenly brought the normalcy she'd craved.

Booze, pills, prayers—none worked.

A tiny cute girl did it.

"Aah... Th-thank you... Thank you......."

The owner knelt on the floor, thanking endlessly.

Lea had exorcised her ghost story thanks to her mengmang-grade nature—but the owner couldn't know.

Truth aside, today she met salvation.

Salvation in the form of a brightly smiling, adorable girl.

"Hm, this isn't C-7?"

"Wowww~ Si-hyun! This body likes this spot better than the other one!"

While I was gone, our camping spot got massively upgraded.

The priciest, best private site.

We could use firewood, supplies—everything in the campground free.

All gratis.

"Hehe! This tent's floor is fluffy and spacious—perfect!"

Hop hop!

Thrilled, Lea bounced around inside.

I approached the owner wistfully watching Lea.

"Um... Excuse me."

"Yes?"

"Why the sudden all-freebies...?"

I love free, sure.

But I'm no sucker!

No ulterior motive, and she'd never give such lavish favors!

I glared suspiciously.

But she ignored it, eyes teary on Lea.

"No bad intentions. Just repaying the girl over there for saving me."

"Saving you?"

"Yes... She brought warm love to my hellish life..."

What the hell?

I stared blankly.

Her lovestruck gaze.

'Aah~ Got it. This woman's...'

Her eyes, excess favors. The word 'love'.

My brilliant brain pieced it instantly.

'She's a total lily!!'

Resolution: Never leave Lea alone here.

One slip, and the owner might kidnap her.