Deepening Obsession
"Still peaceful during the day, huh."
On the way home, the streets were holding onto their everyday calm, but my head was crammed full of tangled thoughts.
New Year's just two days in, and why the hell are so many incidents popping off already?
I must've dodged death twenty more times at least. No matter how I thought about it, I hadn't done a damn thing wrong!
"All I did was read webnovels on the site lol!"
If I hadn't pitied them with my "aww, gonna die" comments during hiatuses, they'd have gotten wrecked! I always checked in on the updates! I even donated occasionally! I consoled them in comments after rushed endings! Fuck, I did everything right!
So why the hell am I the one suffering like this?!
"Sigh. Who do I even complain to?"
I just wanted to end the day peacefully, read some webnovels, and crash. Roll that daily routine.
The notification window tossed me a beginner package and ghosted.
If I'd known, I'd have downloaded all the novels beforehand! The site turned real, but when I searched the serialization platform, nothing.
"Gone clean, like it never existed from the start."
Even so, I couldn't just sit around doing nothing. Waiting idly wasn't an option.
Please end the story of the mengmang-grade ghost story.
100% forced quest, but better than no goal at all.
First up, learn more about Luna, the first mengmang-grade I met.
"But asking if she remembers her past is suicide."
Ghost stories don't recall why they became ghost stories. They don't want to remember the horrific events that twisted their tales.
"If someone shoved my black history in my face, I'd react the same."
Still, there was a backup plan. My form that changes at night. Luna showed stronger attachment to me as Phantom.
"In that state, I can probably dig up more info."
Before I knew it, the sun was dipping low in the sky.
"Head home first. Transforming out here would be a total disaster."
Arriving home, my appearance began shifting. The dark brown hair from moments ago wrapped in black energy. Pale white skin, jet-black hair infused with darkness. Eyes of unknowable depth.
"Over half a year of this, and it's kinda routine now."
This other self took up half my day. At first, it looked like some chuuni line: "Kukuku, black flame dragon in my right hand..."
"Now it feels like 'Yoon Si-hyeon Dark Ver.,' and honestly pretty cool?"
Then, a golden gaze quietly watching from the corner of the room.
"......Si-hyun."
A small voice. The girl's clumsy tone carried an inexplicable emotion.
Is this form familiar to Luna?
Luna approached slowly, tentatively extending a small hand.
"What's up, Luna?"
Golden eyes looked up at me silently. They trembled deeply, searching for something.
"......Still warm."
"What is?"
"......Si-hyun is warm."
The girl murmured again. Her fingertips gripped my clothes a bit harder.
"I was scared... you might not come back......"
"I promised. I'd return."
"......"
"Luna?"
The vibe felt different from morning.
"If I hold on like this...... you won't disappear."
I'm not going anywhere even if you let go, so please release me.
She looks fragile, but her grip is insanely strong?
"Luna. I'm not vanishing, so let—"
"......I don't know."
Luna's voice wavered.
"......What are you?"
"...?"
"......What is Si-hyun?"
I'm just a harmless dude who loves webnovels and anime.
"......A familiar feeling."
The girl's voice grew quieter.
"But... I don't know Si-hyun......"
"Luna, calm down a sec—"
But the murmurs didn't stop.
"Why... do I want to have you......?"
With those words, the air began to quiver. The room's temperature dropped instantly. Something unknown warped the space.
"......Why? Why......?"
Wait, this development—is it... no way?
But Luna's eyes darkened bit by bit, ever so slightly.
"I want to have you."
Short silence, then dark crimson energy seeped from her fingertips.
"......You."
Invisible pressure crushed the space. Greed. The essence of the mengmang-grade ghost story—Luna's sin—manifested unconsciously.
Fuck, we're screwed?
Thought I'd make it through today unscathed, but classics are classics.
Can't you let me have just one peaceful day, Luna?!
I'm gonna die from nerves at this rate! The mood's definitely gone south.
If Greed fully activates, this room could become "a space with only what Luna wants."
I'll turn into a tiny precious Si-hyun figurine!
This could be the display shelf ending for real. But I had to play it cool on the surface. Showing panic might trigger her unstable state unpredictably. Turning your back on wild animals is amateur hour!
This form's expression never cracks even if words sometimes slip—should be fine.
"Luna."
Luna, emitting dark crimson energy, slowly raised her head.
"Si......hyun......?"
Her golden eyes lost focus slightly.
If this doesn't stop now, we're totally fucked.
But what to say to calm her? Every second ticking by, no perfect line popping up.
What the hell happened to my vocab?!
I devoured tons of webnovels—my vocabulary shouldn't suck like this?! But nothing came except what I said that morning.
Screw it. Staying silent means death anyway!
"Luna, wait."
"......?"
"You learned it during the day. Remember?"
Please say you do!
A hazy scene floated in the girl's memory.
—"Waiting is new for you, right?"
—"And I'm Luna's, aren't I? I won't vanish without a word."
Recalling the day's events, Luna's eyes regained focus. The dark crimson energy subsided.
"......Wait?"
"Yeah. Luna can wait well, right?"
I cautiously stroked the back of her hand. Her fingertips still trembled faintly.
"......If I wait... can I have you...?"
That question carried dangerous implications. But I didn't answer. Just gently held her hand.
No way I'm answering rashly—what kinda mess would that cause later!
Welcome to Ghost Story Visual Novel!
Your response to Luna's question?
1) Of course you can have me! → Luna's tiny precious Si-hyun figurine complete.
2) No, you can't have me. → Sounds like death either way.
All routes bad endings—this game's doomed! The name Ghost Story Visual Novel was cursed from the start!
If every path screws me, pick the unlisted 3.
3) Stay silent. → ?? New choice created! What happens?
Please, anything but bad end!
Then, the dark crimson energy faded, and the crushing pressure vanished.
"......I'll wait, Si-hyun......"
Those words sounded like a promise to claim me someday.
Whew... dodged the bad end?
Barely made it, but every moment's like walking on thin ice. Still, for now, relief.
Luna stared intently, then pressed my hand to her cheek.
Luna's cheeks are super soft.
Feeling the warmth, she slowly closed her eyes.
"Si-hyun... cozy."
Crystal clear now. Luna's behavior isn't just longing.
Longing, attachment—beyond mere liking.
Greed. Possession. Obsession that won't let go.
Who the hell did she mistake me for? What kinda guy was that to her?
Need to normalize this misunderstanding ASAP! It'll resolve eventually, but tough road ahead.
"Luna. Time to sleep?"
Brain's fried from overthinking.
Sleep first. Tomorrow's me will handle it haha!
Luna nestled softly into my arms.
"......Yeah. Si-hyun."
Her small hand clutched my clothes tight. Like she'd never let go.
First time sleeping side by side—hope no issues?
Night deepened, quiet darkness enveloping the room. Moonlight seeped through the window, flowing along the sill. Bathed in it, a tiny shadow stirred faintly.
"......"
Golden eyes slowly opened. Pupils gleaming yet bottomless.
Luna quietly rose. Her gaze traced beside the bed.
Si-hyun. Tousled black hair. Pale skin. Steady rising chest.
All within arm's reach.
"......"
The girl extended a small hand slowly toward him. Fingertips brushed his cheek.
Warm, soft texture.
......Si-hyun is warm.
But...... I'm cold.
What is this sensation?
"......Si-hyun."
Whispering his name. But the girl didn't know what it truly meant.
What drew her like this.
"......Strange."
Her chest twisted oddly. Familiar, yet incomprehensible emotion.
"......Don't know."
She bit her lip lightly.
"......I don't know you."
Fresh blood from her torn lip stained him. Her essence spreading into Si-hyun.
Her red flower dyeing his body, encroaching.
Fingertips quietly gripped his clothes. Unknowingly, her body inched closer.
Closer. Deeper. Toward Si-hyun.
"......Why do I want to have you?"
Question to herself. No answer.
Is this 'greed,' or something deeper?
"......Can't understand."
But one thing certain—
"......I want to have you. You."
Luna gazed down at Si-hyun's face slowly. Her fingertips touched his forehead.
Lightly. Ever so lightly. Her crimson lips hovered near his forehead—
But.
"......"
The girl halted, no further.
—"Wait, Luna."
A fragment of memory holding her back. His words to wait paused her greed momentarily.
"......Goodnight. Si-hyun......"
Whispering softly, she clutched his clothes tight and slowly closed her eyes.
Ghost stories were beyond humans—no hunger, no sleep, otherworldly.
Yet since meeting Si-hyun, Luna felt hunger, drowsiness.
"Strange sensation...... this......"
In the darkness, the small, dangerous apocalypse quietly slipped into dreams.
Morning sunlight filtered through the window warmly.
"Half a year unemployed, and heading to work after so long is gonna kill me."
Yesterday replayed: contract, office assignment, added commute clause. And—
"......Luna."
Turning slowly, a small, light body entered view. Faint silver hair. Even breaths.
"Sleeping so peacefully, she's ridiculously cute."
Luna slumbered deeply, using my arm as pillow. As if it were natural.
Ghost stories sleep too? News to me.
Her sleeping face was serene. Innocent, unknowing.
Thought all ghost stories were grotesque, but Luna's straight-up a beauty.
Her small fingertips still gripped my clothes firmly. Like a child clutching something precious.
"She won't freak if I untangle this... right?"
Tugged lightly, but her grip held fast.
I gotta head to work—let go!
A small mumble then.
"......No."
Before I could move, Luna snuggled closer.
"Si-hyun......"
Murmuring in sleep, small hands burrowing into my chest.
"......Mine......"
This is serious.
Clinging even in deep sleep? Come on.
"Luna. Promise I'll be back quick today too."
Stroking her silver hair, the grip loosened gradually.
Dunno why, but she loves head pats?
Carefully freed my hand, rose slowly.
"Gotta dash straight home after quick quits from now on."
Even if she learned 'waiting,' Luna's mengmang-grade—leave her alone, disaster.
Loans left—can't have the house wrecked.
"I'll rush back right after, so behave. Luna."
Whispered softly, closing the door.
That instant, her eyelids fluttered, gripped fingers slowly relaxed.
The apocalypse on the bed looked more at peace.
Because he said he'd return.
Promised to come back.
To her side.