Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Brown's Rejuvenating Bath
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I took a deep breath and recalled the instructions for the Blood Youth Tub.
First, fill the tub with warm water.
As instructed, I drew enough hot water from the sink to submerge one plush doll and poured it into the tub.
And then...
This is where the real deal starts.
The fact that this insanity was written in a friendly, gentle font was mad enough, but luckily, I had a substitute.
I lifted the ginseng.
And snipped off one mid-sized lateral root with the scissors.
'Ugh.'
A dark purple sap that looked nauseating just to see oozed steadily from the cut root.
Thank goodness for the rubber gloves.
Avoiding it as much as possible, I pressed the root's cut surface against the Blood Youth Tub.
Then, an astonishing sight unfolded.
Bubble bubble.
Bubbles rose where the sap met the tub water, and a fantastical fragrance began to rise.
"...!"
The nauseating dark purple sap had already transformed into a rich, beautiful rose-cream color, sparkling alluringly.
Eerie and fantastical.
A bath so inviting and luxurious that anyone would be tempted to slip their feet in... had been prepared just like that.
An excited sound came from under the dark bed.
The plush doll's laughter.
I froze solid.
...From behind me, sounds started coming.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The plush doll walking.
Or... was it? Sounded like a man's dress shoes too. The somewhat sprightly yet heavy steps brushed right past my back, then stopped.
And then, splash—something plunged into the tub right beside mine...
I turned my head.
A small, fully soaked plush doll bobbed in the bath agent of the small tub, unchanged in its smiling animal mascot form...
"......Brown?"
No answer.
Of course. You can't chat face-to-face with a doll in reality.
But it was listening.
"I'll put the ginseng away for now. Enjoy your bath."
I cleared the now-dry ginseng back onto the desk and eyed the tub.
Recalling records from those who'd used the Blood Youth Tub.
Hmm, nothing like that.
'Doesn't work on dolls, huh.'
Better grab a towel.
It was as I turned toward the dresser.
A voice?
I whipped my head around.
In the unseen tub depths, electric sparks flew like from an old TV.
Flash.
The plush doll's shadow, arms raised above the tub, loomed dark and huge.
What the hell is that?
Don't call me!
I swallowed hard and watched the spectacle.
'...Is it really gaining strength?'
I'd never seen records of the Blood Youth Tub's rejuvenation extending that far.
A new case.
One I didn't know about.
Bath agent.
Unconsciously, my hand went for the ginseng on the desk...
Fuck!
'It's awake!!'
Startled into reflex, I flung the ginseng away.
Thump.
As if sensing it, the ginseng that landed in the Blood Youth Tub thrashed about while its leftover sap turned into fragrant bath agent.
But that was all.
The ginseng couldn't pull its usual tricks anymore. Whether the Blood Youth Tub's eerie power subdued it, or Brown did something—I had no idea.
Screams rang out.
Sparks flew in the Blood Youth Tub again.
Just like a TV screen glitching into form...
From inside, an enraged host's bellow echoed.
"......"
I stood up.
And spoke without peering into the tub.
"I can quiet it down without that."
"No need for extreme measures."
"But this isn't a show right now, is it?"
The electric sparks in the tub faded.
Whew.
'Almost got logged as "Blood Youth Tub New Usage Record - Irregular."'
The situation was absurd enough already.
From the tub came a pitiful, sobbing voice.
I crossed my arms.
"I never said I'd save you."
Who gets it in the mid-to-late game of a ghost story?
The good-hearted fool who drops their guard right then!
'When the ghost cries, that's when the horror hits if you go soft!'
Stay cool and hardass in these moments. Through the tub's ceramic, I glared at the stranded ginseng.
"You think I'd risk letting you loose?"
Sobbing followed.
"No thanks."
Sounds like ghost-cursed junk.
I sighed.
"Just prove you won't hurt anyone. Stay quiet."
The ginseng clammed up.
Bought some time, at least.
A few minutes ticked by—stifling for me (blissful for Brown, probably)...
'10 minutes.'
As I clocked it.
"......"
Over already?
Right before turning to fish Brown out.
The plush doll's voice turned sly.
Bam!
Lightning-crash noise and screams erupted from the tub.
This psycho!
"Hold up!"
I finally dashed to the tub.
A tongue-click seemed to sound, but vanished as I leaned in.
There was the ginseng, crammed in the corner, fruits flailing madly as it thrashed.
Fruits half-smashed like kicked, roots pulped sideways as if wrung for sap.
The ginseng's fruits slowed, as if spent.
...Let go?
Gloved hand rummaged the tub for the ginseng.
'Not tied.'
Vibration hit my hand following the ginseng's words.
"......"
Vibration, huh.
Come to think, this ginseng always sent these waves when "speaking."
Not odd—voice is vibration.
But something off.
'Root's not shaking.'
Indeed, even back in the field, only leaves and fruits moved when it talked.
Root just sprawled like infected tentacles.
"......"
Then.
Instinct kicked in—I grabbed the ginseng and yanked off a fruit.
That instant.
The fruit quivered wildly and bounced from my palm.
"...!"
Circling my hand in glee.
The fruit's shape faded to a shimmer, then floated light-like into the air and zipped out the window.
"......"
That was the real body?
Whew.
"Yeah. Anyway, next time let's agree first on whatever..."
"Long as no one's dying, yeah."
Sounded sulky, but confirmation secured.
Good enough...
I peered into the tub again.
The plush doll, now eerily quiet.
Wet cotton clump gleamed somehow.
"......?"
Whoa, legit looks pricier. Higher quality?
Slightly bigger too, like it claimed.
'...Can't grow more though?'
Keychain-sized flies under radar. Full-grown office worker toting a hand-sized-plus doll? Too eye-catching.
Already stand out plenty at work.
'Gotta plan before next Blood Youth Tub use.'
Or better, get home first.
"Looking sharp."
I scooped Brown out, blow-dried carefully, and tucked into a bedding towel.
Turning to drain—surprise.
"...Ginseng root's left."
Figured it'd vanish post-fruit, but nah—stayed, pristine even.
Discolored taint gone, back to pure ivory glow.
'Even smells divine.'
Auspicious vibe. Total anti-ghost story energy.
"Hmm."
Hesitated, then stashed in desk drawer.
Might come in handy.
"That wraps it......"
'One chore down...'
I flopped limp across the bed.
Man, feels like twenty years shaved off my life since this ghost world.
'Gotta grind points fast and bounce.'
Funny paradox—gotta dive deeper into ghost stories for it...
Fuck, startled.
Nearly turned; forced head back to pillow.
Brown piped up again.
Yeah. Yap away...
'Ghost stories mean risking neck again...'
Blackout sleep hit.
Deep, fatigue-melting refresh.
...Woke to new trouble.
Same day, daytime.
While Kim Sol-eum bantered casually with superiors in the D Squad office, the employee lately tied to him walked the hall...
"Ah, Manager Lee Byung-jin."
Yes—that manager, missing then rescued by Kim Sol-eum.
"Y-Yes!"
Stopping him: one director.
Unwelcome for any salaryman, but manager strained a beaming smile, shook hands politely.
No choice.
Company lifeline he'd snagged.
A Squad link to the top of this creepy mega-corp food chain!
'Director Ho!'
Hallway-calling director smiled back.
"Heard you vanished then returned. All good?"
"Fit as fiddle, Director. Your worry let me serve company's safety diligently, yep."
"Haha."
Director ignored the bootlick. Softly, gracefully:
"Lucky break. Plenty lost to Darkness never return."
"Aye... pure luck got me rescued."
"Rescued? Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau help?"
Tone steady, but manager flinched.
This director loathed gov ties—retaliated even.
Cold sweat beaded.
"N-No how! Company man found me!"
"I see."
"Y-Yeah. Field Exploration Team newbie—solid guy! Really!"
Who knew ass-kisser'd sing praises.
Director smiled.
"Name?"
"Ah! Kim Sol-eum... D Squad newbie. Kim Sol-eum."
Manager's big guts moment.
Lifesaver payback!
'Director Ho's spooky but decent boss.'
Steer clear trigger words.
"Promising newbie. Yep."
Thus, unwitting connection formed!
Manager Lee nose-rubbed.
'Sol-eum'll thank me later!'
Nope!
But this sparked massive butterfly effect...
"I'll keep that in mind."
A few days on—company blew up.
Specifically, Field Exploration Team.