Why Am I Here?
People couldn't believe the reality unfolding before their eyes. Since the ranks for mengmang-grade ghost stories had been established, not a single one had ever shown itself. There's no primal fear quite like the terror born from ignorance.
"A mengmang-grade... what the hell even is that...? Did something like that really exist...?"
A being that had never once appeared. Among all the ghost stories that had surfaced so far, the strongest had been apocalypse-grade. Everyone thought nothing could surpass that—yet here it was, right in front of them, presumed to rank even higher.
"Ah, aaah... we're all gonna die...?"
"N-no... Mommy..."
One by one, people collapsed, their voices choked with sobs. But even in this moment of utter despair, two men refused to give up.
"Everyone, fall back."
"Hmmm. No matter how I look at her, she just seems like an ordinary little girl... Is she really a ghost story?"
Han Do-jin, master of Dawn's Light Guild, and Seo Ji-hoon, head of the Monster Countermeasure Headquarters. Korea's mightiest awakeners stood face-to-face with the silver-haired girl.
"Guild master, are you ready?"
Ji-hoon clenched his fists, finishing his preparations for battle.
"Of course. But... Headquarters Chief."
"Hm? What is it?"
"I've never seen a ghost story that looks so perfectly human... Could she really be one? Maybe there's another ghost story behind her, tricking us into letting our guard down..."
All ghost stories discovered so far had grotesque forms as their hallmark. Even those vaguely resembling humans always had some twisted feature. But this girl? Not a single flaw.
If anything, she was the opposite...
"The kid's just too damn pretty. Don't you think?"
"She is."
Ji-hoon shared Do-jin's thoughts. Still, no matter how un-ghost-story-like she seemed, the fact that she'd deployed the Netherworld was undeniable.
"Guess we'll have to clash and find out."
"No choice. The girl's ignored every word we've said since she appeared."
Rumble—
A chilling aura exploded from the two men, sending a shockwave sweeping across the square. A giant's silhouette swirled around Ji-hoon, enveloping him in invisible power. Do-jin's body erupted in flames fierce enough to incinerate everything.
These were their unique awakening abilities, earned from conquering ghost stories.
"This old man's going first."
"Got it."
As the two approached, radiating murderous intent... even in this dire moment.
"......"
The girl just tilted her head, staring blankly at them. Not wary, not intrigued—just observing. As if Do-jin and Ji-hoon weren't even worth noticing.
"Alright, kid. Let's see what this 'mengmang-grade' is made of."
Boom!!
Ji-hoon slammed his fist, shrouded in the giant's form, straight down at the girl. The mere shockwave from his casual swing uprooted street trees and hurled cars aside.
But.
"Wha... how...?"
His fist never reached her. The girl hadn't moved a single step from her spot.
"What the...?"
"......"
"...Kid, you got some kinda intangible barrier up or what?"
It wasn't mere defense or evasion. It was an absolute law declaring, "Nothing beyond this is permitted." Ji-hoon's attack was futilely blocked by that rule.
"Chief, my turn...!"
As Ji-hoon's assault failed, Do-jin unleashed his power.
Whoosh—!!
"No barrier can withstand the heat of these flames!"
Do-jin's hands crossed, whipping flames into a vortex that engulfed the girl.
Boom!
The master of Dawn's Light had incinerated countless ghost stories with this ability. Crimson fire, devouring all, completely surrounded and blazed around her.
'This should do it...!'
No matter how mighty the girl, she'd take damage now. That's what Do-jin believed.
But.
From within the flames that seemed ready to consume everything.
"......"
The girl stood there, utterly unscathed. Not a single hair singed, not a finger twitched. She just stood, gazing at them impassively.
"...Impossible."
As Do-jin's face twisted in shock, the girl finally moved her lips for the first time.
"Interference..."
Crunch—
With those quiet words and a raised hand, the surrounding space began to warp. As if the space itself were responding to her will.
"Ngh...!"
"What is this...?"
Ji-hoon and Do-jin instinctively resisted, but.
Boom—!!
In mere seconds after she raised her hand, the two were blasted dozens of meters away.
"......!"
"Those two... taken out in one hit...?"
The citizens were speechless. Korea's strongest, Do-jin and Ji-hoon, felled by a mere gesture from a little girl. It was like a human toying with ants.
"......Ah, aaaah......"
Everyone's legs gave out; they couldn't move.
"It's over......"
"Everything's... finished......"
Resignation. Despair. Negative emotions swallowed the entire square.
"......"
The silver-haired girl slowly raised her head. With the annoying interlopers gone, she seemed ready to begin her true actions.
No one left to stop her now. That's what everyone thought.
Right then.
Shrrrip—!!
"Gahhh! What the hell now?!"
"E-everyone, look! In the center of the square!!"
"Center of the square...?"
Something alien began rising from the square's heart.
Rooooar—
Darkness tore open like ripping fabric, swirling into black mist. From within, a man's silhouette slowly emerged.
"......!!"
The girl's eyes contracted slightly at the man's voice—her first reaction since appearing. For the first time, she wore an expression of interest.
"......Found you."
* * *
A few minutes earlier.
"Cough...! Cough...! Ugh, damn it, I choked on my beer while watching!"
I'd been casually streaming the bell-ringing ceremony on YouTube when I spat out my drink. Something felt off since that tearing sound...
The moment the camera caught the girl, I nearly passed out.
—Where... are you...?
A voice like an antique music box. Pale silver hair and golden eyes brimming with light. I knew that description all too well.
"...The Collector?"
One of the novel's most powerful ghost stories... Why the hell are you popping up there? What is this, some epic prank cam?
Before I could process it, the Netherworld swallowed my room too.
Rumble—
"......Oh."
This was real. The real 'Collector' had appeared smack in the middle of Seoul!
"What the fuck is this on New Year's—huh?"
As I reeled in confusion, the live feed showed two burly men stepping up.
The Monster Countermeasure Headquarters chief and Dawn's Light Guild master. They charged at the Collector, deploying their powers.
"No way?!"
These guys were among Korea's top awakeners. Maybe they'd pull off a kingly feat against the Collector...!!
Boom—!!
"......"
My hopes shattered in under 30 seconds.
"...As if! No, even so, getting one-shot like that?!"
A casual flick from the girl retired them both.
"Sigh. Kinda figured..."
I'd half-expected it. That golden-eyed girl was a mengmang-grade ghost story, after all.
Mengmang-grade. The strongest rank in the novel. When it first appeared, I thought the author botched the balance. They were natural disasters you could only pray would pass—no one had ever conquered one.
'So unbeatable you just hoped it'd move on.'
And now one was here in reality? Might as well yeet myself out the window.
"Hey, you shitty author...! Even you wouldn't—"
As I screamed curses at the author.
Please end the tales of the mengmang-grade ghost stories.
Tales Resolved: 0
"Wha?"
A familiar chime rang out, and a bizarre UI popped up like a status window. It kept spamming messages without my input.
Mengmang-grade ghost stories are girls burdened with sins.
Only by ending their tragic tales can your world return to its peaceful days.
"...So you're telling me to take down a mengmang-grade that even the novel couldn't handle...?"
Yes.
"Wait, hold up. Is this live chat?"
No.
"...It totally is!!!"
Anyway, please, Si-hyun! I've always been watching over you!
"Haa... Even so, popping up out of nowhere with demands like that... what the hell?"
Whoooosh—
"...Huh?"
As I tried to argue back against the absurd request, black energy suddenly swirled up from my feet, enveloping me.
"Wait, what is this?!"
Si-hyun, please... save the Collector.
"No no wait!! Hold on a sec!!"
I knew it instinctively. This was a forced event!
'This is gonna drag me into some massive hassle...!'
Flail flail!
I flailed my arms to escape the black vortex, but it was too late.
"Hey, whatever you are—Notification Window or whatever? Let's talk first...!"
Sorry, Si-hyun. No more time. I believe in you—you'll definitely succeed!
Shrrrip—!!
My body floated up, sucked into the black swirl.
"You damn Notification Window...! You're so dead later—aaaaah!!"
. . . . . . .
After that dizzying ride, I opened my eyes to...
'Uh...?!?!'
The center of Bosinsak Square, where the mengmang-grade girl gleamed with golden eyes.
'Haha... I'm fucked.'