Kunekune (2): Punching Through the Void
A deathly quiet rural village. Following Geom-ma led me to a certain house. She must have been here several times before, because she walked right inside with familiar steps. It was a two-story house with a yard out front and a small pond in one corner. Looked like they used to raise koi or something. Must've been a pretty well-off family.
"I checked out other houses too, but this one's the most livable."
"The most livable...? What about the owners of this place?"
"Who knows. Confirming victims' status isn't my job."
If they survived, they'd have fled the village. Otherwise, they'd already be done for. That's what Geom-ma said.
Stepping inside, a woody scent hit me. Not a speck of dust anywhere. Canned tuna and other provisions stocked in the corner—she must've been maintaining the place.
Geom-ma bypassed the first floor and headed upstairs. I followed, and there she was, staring out the window.
"You can see it from here. Not that you should look, but wanna see anyway? It's far enough; should be fine."
I peered out following her words. Fields stretched out. And way off in the distance, something like pure white smoke. Not just one spot. Smoke rising here and there. But it wasn't rising into the sky—it was wriggling in place.
Kunekune. Kunekune.
Entity Name:Kunekune
Estimated Management Rank:Massacre (Viriditas) (Threat Level 4)
Hostility:Hostile
This entity exhibits traits nearly identical to the internet creepypasta 'Kunekune.' Observed as a white, humanoid gaseous form wriggling in the distance. Direct close-range observation induces mental instability in witnesses with high probability, leading to extreme confusion or madness.
Kunekune. A Japanese urban legend, but probably decently known here too. It shows up in games like weird syndrome and all sorts of other horror stuff.
The gist is this: something white wriggles far away, and when you observe it through binoculars or whatever and grasp its true nature, you go insane.
"Bro, what's that?"
My brother looked at the wriggling thing and said,
"Better not to know..."
Then he started laughing like a maniac.
—From the Kunekune creepypasta
Luckily, the distance kept its true nature a mystery.
"The villagers all fell to that thing."
Swish. Geom-ma drew the curtains, blocking the window completely.
"I've been reporting it on Mimyungnet forever, but no one's doing anything."
"No one's doing anything?"
"Yeah. Special Task Force, the Foundation—they're all ignoring it. Thought the cult might step in, but nope."
That rang a bell.
This entity is presumed released by the Gohae Cult. Apparent goal: erode humanity into Kunekune. Past capture attempts resulted in some agents succumbing to madness from the entity's influence. They underwent 'memory erasure' and fell into comas. No viable capture method found to date; further casualties deemed unacceptable. Status quo maintenance adopted as optimal response for now.
Threat Level 4, Massacre rank. Threat level doesn't directly measure raw power. But the higher it is, the trickier it is for humanity.
For example, Threat Level 3 'Carnival Chef' can kill individuals. One step up, Level 4 causes group annihilation.
And since this Kunekune wiped out a whole village, it's a Level 4 bordering on 5. It's still 4 because it takes time to destroy just one village.
Humans succumbing to mental breakdown, if left unattended for a period or no longer observing, transform into 'Kunekune.' Phenomenon confirmed.
Grandpa said,
"Let's leave your brother here for now... Better to release him in the fields later..."
—From the Kunekune creepypasta
"You're a fixer, right? Can you fix it?" Geom-ma asked.
Ugh... Level 4 is no joke. Even the Foundation and Special Task Force gave up because they had no idea how.
But backing out now means losing my Deep Web connection...?
Urgh...
"I-I'll give it a shot..."
No choice but to say that.
I still wonder why I got isekai'd into a horror game of all things.
Getting dropped into a story? Fine, whatever. As an otaku, I've read my share of isekai reincarnation tales. Got the tropes down pat.
Usually, you leverage original knowledge to clear conflicts, right?
But in a horror game, that knowledge doesn't apply as well.
...Kunekune isn't even a monster you defeat in the first place.
Horror games... mostly about surviving enemies, not beating them.
Kunekune was unbeatable in the original too. Just escape and survive—that was it.
No original knowledge on taking it down.
But Geom-ma... probably wants me to eliminate or neutralize it, right?
Unbeatable with canon knowledge. Time to review my cards.
Ari, bound to me. But will her perception-lowering work on Kunekune? It failed on One Person Factory workers, so probably not banking on it.
Ari's Bond Effect: fools any monster once. ...Dunno if tricking Kunekune helps.
Same for Lisa's slash-anything Bond Effect—once a day limits it.
Might slice one Kunekune, but...
Problem is, there's not just one.
So two options left.
Summon Lisa herself to shred them all.
Or land a "Cute Girl Punch" on Kunekune.
"Either way, gotta get close first..."
Have to approach the monster. Suicide normally, but Kunekune's different.
Remained in close proximity to the entity; no direct aggression observed. Entity appears to lack physical means to harm humans. However, upon detecting a human, it persistently pursues, repeatedly attempting to block line of sight with its body.
Kunekune jumpscares you if it spots the player. That's it.
But no records of it physically killing anyone. Plenty went mad from seeing it, though.
So approaching shouldn't get me physically killed.
"Ari, let's step out for a bit."
"Okay."
I took Ari outside and walked. Aiming for an open field.
Worried a Kunekune might pop up en route, but no such luck—or unluck.
Soon, fields appeared. I took a deep breath and screamed.
"KyaAAAAAHHH!!!!"
My high soprano wail. First time testing my full volume, actually.
...Louder than I expected. Even startled myself.
Why scream? To lure Kunekune.
Entity highly sensitive to sound. Especially screams: immediately recognizes and initiates pursuit.
In the original game, you fled silently. Loud footsteps triggered pursuit and jumpscare.
This time, I reversed it to summon one.
There—white smoke far off.
Kunekune. Kunekune.
It writhed furiously, charging this way.
"A-Ari...! I'm closing my eyes now, so guide me good! G-Got it...?!"
"Okay."
Ari nodded, so I shut my eyes tight. Gripped her right hand with my left.
No madness or transformation into Kunekune observed in Muksi Saengmyeongche directly viewing it. Transformation limited to humans.
Ari looks human but is a monster at core. Deviate even slightly from humanity, and no Kunekune risk.
Definite.
Grasping its nature drives you mad? Then don't look!
That was my conclusion.
"A-Ari... any white monsters around...?"
"Yes."
"How many...?"
"Lots."
Ari's calm voice, same as always—reassuring somehow.
Having Ari here is so reliable.
"Can you tell me where?"
"Surrounding us."
"Got it... In front of me too?"
"Yes."
"Right in front of me?"
"Yes."
...No opening my eyes, ever.
But casually chatting with Ari proved my hypothesis.
Eyes closed, Kunekune can't touch me.
I steadied my breath, cocked my right fist.
"Cute Girl Punch" time.
"HyaAAAAH!!!"
I yelled, swinging. No clue about fighting—fist extension, power application?
But eyes closed sharpened my senses.
Inhaling, my heartbeat thundered like a drum.
Fist moved. Not me controlling it—instinct guided me.
Latent talent exploding now.
Whoosh! Wind whistled.
Fist tip—nothing.
...?
"A-Ari...?"
"Yes."
"Did I hit the monster right...?"
"Passed through."
"...Huh?"
I doubted my ears.
"Passed through...?"
"Hit it, but Mayuri's fist went straight through its body."
"......"
Swing again—same, air.
...What now? Cute Girl Mod working...?
Eyes closed, no system message...
"...Ari, white monster still in front?"
"Yes."
"......"
Success or failure? Wait and see.
"Ari, white monsters?"
"Yes."
"...White monsters?"
"Yes."
"......"
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
Every question, same answer from Ari.
......Driving me nuts.