Are You Really a Mengmang-Grade Ghost Story?
A peaceful morning. Warm sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, and the aroma of toasted bread wafted gently through the room. Si-hyun was preparing breakfast, frying eggs in the pan.
"Luna, do you like your eggs soft-boiled or hard-boiled?"
Across the table sat a petite girl, sitting ramrod straight. Her golden eyes gazed quietly at Si-hyun. After a moment's thought, she replied, "……Tasty ones."
A short, confident answer. Her eyes seemed to say, Why ask something so obvious?
"Soft-boiled it is, then. You don't like 'em tough, right?"
Luna slowly shook her head. "……Don't like."
Yeah, whatever. Even a ghost story wouldn't want bad food. And so, Si-hyun was making soft-boiled eggs for the girl who had been a mengmang-grade ghost story just yesterday.
Is life allowed to be this dynamic?
She seemed like a being harboring some tremendous secret. Yet she also came across as an innocent girl who leaped into his arms, overjoyed just at hearing her name. Luna.
The girl quietly stared down at the plate placed before her, then lifted a small hand to take a bite of the toast. Crunch. She chewed slowly, savoring the flavor, her lips moving deliberately. At last, she murmured softly.
"……Tasty."
Short and definitive feedback. Si-hyun took a casual bite of his own toast. "Glad it suits your taste."
Honestly, he hadn't imagined this was even possible until yesterday. Eating breakfast with a mengmang-grade ghost story.
At least she's eating well. That's a relief.
Watching Luna munch away quietly, she looked just like any ordinary little girl.
In the novels, ghost stories above a certain rank could hide their true nature.
To anyone watching, Luna appeared as nothing more than a normal child right now, so she didn't feel threatening at all. Si-hyun felt a bit more at ease as he took another bite of toast.
But seriously, what now? Ever since meeting Luna, I can't put this off anymore.
Please end the story of the mengmang-grade ghost story.
Stories resolved: 0
It seemed like he had to end the stories of all the mengmang-grade ghost stories...
At least tell me how many there are!
Another issue was that he had no clue how to end a mengmang-grade ghost story's tale.
In the novels, resolving ghost stories was easier once you uncovered the backstory of why they became ghost stories in the first place. Trying to do it without that knowledge was sheer madness, and even if possible, it required insane luck—otherwise, massive sacrifices were inevitable.
Luna must have some unavoidable backstory too, but I can't just ask her about it.
Ghost stories were fundamentally beings warped by exposure to irrationality. They forgot why they'd become that way, and forcing them to recall it could destabilize their minds, leading to rampages.
Like forcing someone with PTSD to relive it—disaster.
And Luna was mengmang-grade. If she ever snapped...
The world might end on the spot...
So Si-hyun resolved to learn about Luna carefully, step by step.
If only there was a status window like in games to tell me...
Ding.
Si-hyun, are you still alive?
This sound?!
The notification window responded to my call again. But the first thing it says is...Unbelievable.
Who knew when it might ghost him again, so he brushed off the trivial stuff and stood up.
"Luna, I'm just gonna hit the bathroom real quick. You can sit tight, right?"
He figured he shouldn't let Luna know about the notification window, so he'd continue the chat from the bathroom.
"Yeah. Si-hyun."
Luna's response was surprisingly obedient. He'd been worried she might follow, but she seemed to be listening to him.
She's so well-behaved, she just looks like a cute girl.
"Be right back. Keep eating your toast."
Si-hyun dashed into the bathroom and locked the door.
Click.
"So... you popped up again just to check if I'm alive?"
The familiar glow appeared before his eyes.
Sorry about yesterday. I thought time was short, so I...
The text trembled faintly, as if acknowledging its fault and hesitating.
"Sigh, whatever, I'm alive, so it's fine. But please listen to me next time."
Got it. I'll try my best!
"……You know that tone doesn't inspire any confidence, right?"
Ehehe...
He had way more gripes, but getting answers to his questions would feel better first.
"I get that I need to end the story, but why did the novel become reality? Why do I change? And who the hell are you? So many questions, but at least answer this."
Sorry, Si-hyun. There are things I can't answer yet, so I can't tell you everything.
Ha, turning an innocent guy who just read novels into this? What the—?!
"……Ugh, total cliché fest. 'I'll tell you when you're stronger!' or something?"
Um... kinda?
"I was joking, and it's actually true?!"
The novel becoming reality was cliché enough—no need to double down!
"……Fine, whatever. At least answer what you can. That much is doable, right?"
I'll tell you everything I can.
"Please do."
First, the novel became reality because you wanted it, Si-hyun. Strongly. For a long time.
"Doesn't feel like I wanted it that bad. I read it from the start, sure, but I didn't wish for this."
Si-hyun tapped his temple as he replied.
That's all I can say on that. Sorry...
"Sigh... Then what's with my body changing?"
Think of it as a beginner package! The bare minimum to help you move forward. Can't have you dying to some random ghost story, right?
Oh, thanks a bunch.
Throwing unknown powers at him and acting all high and mighty.
Was he supposed to be grateful or pissed?
"Even so, it's too risky. I didn't die on first contact, lucky me, but Luna thinks I'm some cherished, nostalgic figure. What if she learns the truth and kills me?"
Hehe, you think?
"Don't talk like it's not your problem. My life's on the line here!"
Don't worry too much, Si-hyun. It'll be fine.
No idea what gave it such confidence, but pushing further would just get another "can't say." So he dropped it.
"Third question. Who are you?"
……
"Who even are you to teach me all this?"
Sorry, Si-hyun. For now, all I can say is 'helper.'
"Phew, evasive answers right to the end."
Still, it wasn't zero gains.
Not satisfying, but better than total ignorance.
Right? Hehe.
"Don't read my mind."
……That's all for now, but hang in there, Si-hyun.
"I'll do my best. I don't want the world to end either."
He leaned against the wall wordlessly, staring at the ceiling. It felt oddly like something long-existing was slotting back into place.
Si-hyun.
"Yeah?"
For a while... it might be hard to meet... But know that I'm always... worrying about... Si... hyun...
Suddenly, the notification window glitched with static, the text distorting as if about to vanish.
"Wait, not again!"
Please... save... the girls...
His heart sank. The girls? Just those words. But in that instant, his mind twisted like massive gears meshing. Instinct told him this wasn't a simple request.
If I don't save them, they'll be beyond saving forever.
"Wait, hold on! Tell me how to end the stories! I don't know anything!!"
His desperate shout did nothing; the window shook violently, text illegible.
Finally, the unstable window flickered out, leaving only silence. He swiped at empty air, but it was gone.
"Sigh... Shows up and vanishes on its own whim."
He closed his weary eyes and exhaled slowly.
……So ultimately, it's because I wanted this world? If that's true, what the hell was I thinking?
And.
……The girls?
Instinct pointed to the mengmang-grade ghost stories.
Are they all connected?
Even regular ghost stories could knock you out just by looking. Now he had to face more mengmang-grades?
"If I'm dead either way, might as well try. Ugh."
Now that the story had started, he couldn't stop until the end.
"I've already met... the Collector... Luna."
Stepping out of the bathroom, he glanced at Luna sitting quietly in the room. Her golden eyes met his gaze.
A subtle emotion washed over him at the sight of her obedient posture.
……It said to save them.
Who was saving whom? No clue.
And I could die any second.
The words lingered even after the window vanished.
"The world Si-hyun wanted."
"Please save the girls."
"……I never wished for this."
The window had no reason to lie. Nothing to gain.
But if he really wanted it, why no memory?
No, maybe it's not missing...
He quietly clutched his head.
"……Was it ever there to begin with?"
His mind grew more tangled.
"Ugh."
No use dwelling. He noticed her gaze. Luna had been staring at him intently since he came out.
"……What."
His face had naturally furrowed from all the worries.
"Why are you staring like that?"
Luna gazed at him silently.
"……Si-hyun."
"Yeah?"
"……Feeling bad?"
Luna rested her hands on the table, watching him intently.
……How does she know I'm in a bad mood?
Si-hyun wasn't one to show emotions openly. Yet Luna saw right through him.
"Nah. Just tired."
Couldn't explain anyway, and blaming her felt like tempting fate.
"Got a lot on my plate, that's all."
"……."
Luna looked down silently, then quietly set her spoon aside.
"……Si-hyun."
"Yeah?"
"Gimme your hand."
She extended her hand toward him.
Taking your hand takes guts.
"Why my hand all of a sudden?"
"……'Cause you're feeling bad."
"……?"
Si-hyun didn't get it at first. But Luna held out her hand expectantly.
Her small hand reached for him.
Can't predict her at all.
Refusing might cause issues, so he offered his hand with an ambiguous expression.
Squish.
Luna grasped it firmly.
"……?!"
A bit cool, but small and warm. She squeezed tightly and whispered softly.
"……It's okay."
"What is?"
Luna slowly looked up at him.
"……Si-hyun is Luna's."
"……?"
He'd heard this yesterday. But today, it felt different. Yesterday it was attachment; now, it was clumsy comfort.
……What is she, really?
Si-hyun looked at Luna holding his hand. Was this tiny being truly a ghost story? Mengmang-grade, yet caring about his mood?
How did a ghost story even know about comforting others? It made no sense. Who'd believe you could be consoled by a ghost story?
"……Phew."
Si-hyun let out a short sigh and looked down at her again.
"……You think this'll make me feel better?"
Luna nodded quietly. Her grip trembled ever so slightly.
"……When feeling bad, gotta hold hands."
"Who said?"
"Dunno. But…… feels right."
She seemed unsure herself, yet spoke naturally, like something remembered. No clue what logic this was, but Si-hyun found himself smiling faintly.
"……Yeah?"
As he relaxed his hand, Luna squeezed harder. Her fingertips warmed. As if she'd longed to hold someone like this forever.
And she murmured contentedly.
"Yeah."
For the first time, Si-hyun truly felt Luna—as a being before a ghost story—possessed something real.
He wondered again if he could really end her story.
Ghost stories were born from misfortune. Maybe Luna had forgotten herself amid unbearable tragedy, falling into apocalypse.
I don't know what you went through.
Her golden eyes held unfathomable depth. As if she vaguely remembered her own existence.
But one thing's sure: I have to end your story.
Yet.
Is that really okay?
To revert this world, end the mengmang-grade stories. But was Luna just a ghost story?
He gripped her hand tighter unconsciously. As if he couldn't decide easily.
Don't overthink... She's just a ghost story.
Just put the period at the end of the tale.
That's it. What more is there?
Si-hyun muttered as if suppressing emotion, but deep down, he knew. In the novel and this reality, he already saw Luna as special.