Take Responsibility!! What is a Ghost Story?
Take responsibility!! What is a ghost story, anyway? It's a monster born when the human mind shatters under unbearable irrationality and tragedy. Or an anomaly. Or a non-human entity. Or a calamity. There are all sorts of words for it, but in the end, a ghost story is just another form taken by a human who couldn't overcome despair.
But in reality, no matter how much stress you endure, all you get is a headache—no weird transformations or special powers. That is, if reality is truly an 'utterly ordinary place.'
"Like in that zombie manga from the neighboring country where your hair turns white or you go dark... Just a few years ago, that stuff was pure fantasy."
The problem was that our world had become a 'fantasy world' just like that, ever since the Day of Beginnings.
"This is just... I never thought I'd witness a ghost story manifesting right in front of me."
—Shuuuaaaak!
A fierce whirlwind of dark red, eerie energy. It completely enveloped Emilia and Ga-eun, as if protecting them.
"I wanna check their status... but I can't get close with that energy in the way."
—Chuaaak!!
The dark red energy whipped around wildly, blocking any approach like it was warning everyone to stay back.
Don't come near. I don't want to get hurt anymore. I don't need any of this. I don't want to live in a world like this. Make this world disappear.
It resembled the blade-sharp emotions Luna had generated when she was turning into a mengmang-grade ghost story. It was exactly like the symptoms that appear when a human gives up on everything and degenerates into a ghost story.
"Haa... What a damn novel-like worldview. Why'd they have to import laws like this?"
The emotions cursing the world from the two girls boiled down to one single meaning.
《I have no reason to keep living.》
Turning into a ghost story means the current situation is so pathetic and unbearable that you can't endure it anymore.
"Put another way, if the situation improves, they might come back."
To stop Emilia and Ga-eun from fully turning into ghost stories, I had to resolve whatever had plunged them into despair.
And that cause was...
Loli-chasing playboy Si-hyun's dumbass mistakes are the cause!
"Yeah, that's me... but can you drop the 'loli-chasing playboy' part?"
Si-hyun, turning away from the truth will only make you more miserable. You have to accept it!
"Haa, fine, I get it. First, check Ga-eun and Emilia's status. I wanna see for myself, but if I get too close, that black energy might go berserk again."
I asked the Notification Window about the girls' conditions and took a step back from them.
Ga-eun and Emilia sat there blankly, their eyes completely unfocused. Like beautiful dolls meticulously crafted by a master artisan, utterly still.
They were facing my Phantom form head-on, but showed no reaction whatsoever.
"Looks like they can't respond to external stimuli. That right?"
Hmm, right now they're kinda in a state like suspended animation. Their human emotions are fading one by one as they turn into ghost stories.
"Haa, I was hoping it wasn't true, but they're actually turning into ghost stories..."
This was definitely my fault.
A stupid outcome from me getting cocky just because I trusted the beginner's package.
My complacent actions had plunged Ga-eun and Emilia into despair.
"Genius plan, my ass..."
Did wrapping up one mengmang-grade story give me too much confidence?
In the end, I'd made a colossal blunder.
But I couldn't just keep beating myself up!
I had to find a way to fix this as fast as possible.
"Notification Window, any ideas?"
Well... there's a simple but difficult method. Wanna hear it?
"Simple but difficult? What does that even mean?"
The Notification Window hesitated for a moment, looking conflicted.
Ga-eun and Emilia are trapped in despair thinking Si-hyun is dead. So, if you just let them know you're alive, they could stop before fully turning.
"Yeah, that sounds simple. So why's it difficult?"
But... the problem is—
The Notification Window displayed an arrow-like emoticon pointing at the two girls.
You see how their eyes are completely unfocused? It's not that they didn't react to Phantom Si-hyun—they couldn't. Nothing's reflecting in their eyes right now. They lack the strength to face reality head-on.
"So even if I pop up like 'Ta-da! I'm alive!' it won't work?"
Yep. They can't see anything, so they won't know.
We're screwed.
I thought turning off the beginner's package and just showing them I was alive would fix it, but if they can't see anything...!
"Nngaaah! Then what do I do?!"
Hiiing... I dunno either. If we could give them a strong shock, they might snap out of it...
—Paat!
The moment I heard the Notification Window mutter that, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.
That's the only way...!
Emilia and Ga-eun had lost the will to live because they thought I was dead.
In other words, if I could give them a new reason to live...
"They'd snap back to their senses. The degeneration into ghost stories would stop too."
—Chuaaak...
I immediately turned off the beginner's package to execute the plan.
Si-hyun, you're not planning something weird again, right...?
"Heh heh heh... Don't worry. This time it won't fail."
Saying that just makes me more worrieddd...
"All we need is to shock them and give them a reason to live, right? And I'm an expert at that stuff."
Over the past few years, I'd read countless web novels, and a staple cliché was the protagonist giving the heroine a 'reason to live.'
《The male lead lies to stop a world-weary elf from suicide》
《The male lead becomes the heroine's sworn enemy to save her from suicide in a bad-end world》
"Those cliché-filled novels were surprisingly addictive. Hm hm."
And the extreme prescription I was about to administer was straight out of that playbook.
Planting instant hatred, rage, and resentment toward me in Ga-eun and Emilia.
Every minute and second mattered here—did I have time to slowly build hope and love as a reason to live?
Honestly, I was scared shitless about the aftermath...
But this was the only way to give them a reason to live in short order.
The Notification Window nodded slightly once she heard my plan, agreeing it made sense.
Anger, jealousy, resentment—those emotions have massive instant power, yeah.
"They'll hate me forever... but it was the only thing I could think of."
Fewer girls clinging to you means more for me... but are you really okay with this?
"With what?"
They won't know your true feelings—they'll just end up hating you...
"Hahaha, it's fine. I'm used to being hated. And if they hate me, you can just love me twice as much, right?"
......!!
"So no more calling me a playboy from now on. Got it?"
Hehe... Y-Yes...!
I gave the bashful Notification Window a little pat, then approached Ga-eun first.
"I hate it... a world like this... just disappear..."
Ga-eun sat there blankly, endlessly cursing the world.
"Still, seeing her this shocked that I'm 'dead'... kinda touching."
Her sunset eyes, reflecting nothing, spilled endless transparent tears—what could be so sad?
Ga-eun, just hold on a bit. I'll save you soon.
My plan to save Ga-eun was simple.
Operation name: 'First Experience NTR'!!
Ga-eun had always emphasized since she was little that she wanted her first love and skinship.
— "Oppa, listen up! I'm only doing skinship with my first love. First peck, first kiss! A-And my first time too... with my first love!"
— "You've been saying that for 10 years already? I've memorized it."
— "Hehe, any guy who gets skinship with me is super lucky!"
Ga-eun had endlessly preached that she wouldn't even have casual encounters until meeting her first love—that she'd keep her heart, skills, and body pure.
And now, I planned to do something unforgivable to the Ga-eun who swore to protect that purity.
I'd steal Ga-eun's first kiss, the one she'd saved so preciously for her future beloved.
To snap her out of her despair, no ordinary shock would cut it.
It had to be NTR-level impact!
She'll definitely regain her senses from the feel of the kiss. And right then, I'll tell her!
Your first kiss wasn't with your future husband! It was with this Yoon Si-hyun!——Like that!
Bonus confession to really drive it home, and her mind will snap right back.
"A 15-year buddy she doesn't even like forcing her first kiss and confessing? No way she survives that without reacting."
Stealing the first of a girl who'd emphasized her purity over and over...
I'd definitely be hated for life.
But if it saves you, Ga-eun, I'd walk that path gladly.
—Swish.
I shifted my gaze from Ga-eun to the small girl sitting beside her.
"And Emilia too... no choice but to do the same."
The light green-haired girl sat still with blood on her face, her dead eyes devoid of any light.
"...All lies... everything..."
Emilia was quietly muttering denials of reality, just like Ga-eun.
"Haa... We haven't known each other long, and now I have to do something awful to her too. To a girl who already has someone she loves."
During our chats in the car, I'd learned Emilia had never dated anyone, just like Ga-eun.
Instead, she said she kept cherishing the oppa she'd met long ago in her heart.
"Emilia's always expressionless, but she looked happy talking about that oppa."
— "Shin oppa... I've kept that oppa in my heart all this time..."
— "Really? Even after over 10 years?"
— "Yeah... back then, now... and forever, only that oppa..."
— "Haha, whoever he is, getting love from a beauty like Emilia? I'm jealous."
— "Shin oppa... jealous...?"
— "Super jealous. Where else do you find pure love like that?"
But now... I had to trample Emilia's pure love.
After causing her despair, I'd become the ultimate scum stealing a girl's innocent pure love.
"Never thought I'd end up playing the NTR gold sun role in my life... haha."
I had to take Emilia's first kiss, saved so preciously for the oppa in her memories.
Even if she hated and resented me for it, as long as she kept living.
Even if she looked at me with betrayed, contemptuous eyes—as long as she survived, that was enough for me.
"Might as well go all in. Time to act like a total irredeemable trash!"
I steeled my resolve and placed my hands on Ga-eun and Emilia's cheeks.