The Laughing Severed Head

With the ping-pong ball light source leading the way—crunch crunch crunch—I walked down the corridor. No matter how I looked at it, this was a map I'd never seen before.

...It's probably generated based on Ryu Harin's dream.

Monsters tied to dreams always had this vibe. Take succubi, for example—they often shapeshift into whatever their target desires in subculture stories. Dreams don't have fixed forms. So, seeing a brand-new map made sense.

Still, it didn't feel completely alien, which meant I'd been here at least once before.

...I spotted an iron door scrawled with those red letters. I had a vague memory of this too. Opening it felt like inviting a monster. But there was no presence beyond it—no sounds that should have been there.

So, I boldly swung it open.

"Ahh...."

Bodies. Corpses with their heads completely devoured.... I glanced around, but no female bodies in sight. Did that mean Ryu Harin hadn't been eaten yet?

'And if the monster isn't here, it's probably wandering the abandoned building.'

The monster was likely hunting for Ryu Harin. I was an uninvited intruder via Dis Man—an unexpected guest. So, its main target was still Ryu Harin.

In other words, I had to find her somewhere in this building faster than the monster, without getting caught.

"Ugh, this is too intense...."

I sighed.

...Was it even possible? Finding Ryu Harin before the monster? Realistically?

'...Probably not.'

That was my conclusion. Not because I lacked resolve—it was pure probability. The monster had every advantage. It could roam freely without worrying about eyes on it. Me? I had to stay hidden, limiting my range. That alone tilted hide-and-seek heavily in its favor. And if I ran into it with these short legs? Could I even escape?

'If the game's stacked against me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from the start... maybe I go all-in.'

That's what I thought.

Hoo. I took a deep breath and tensed my abs. Sure, as a cute girl, I didn't have much muscle overall, but let's pretend I did.

Ahh, that feeling. Chilling yet heavy.

Who was I? The universe's top post-00 beauty. A girl with a face and voice to match. The ultimate human siren.

"Harin!!! Where are you!!!!"

No reaction. She wasn't here.

I headed downstairs and let my voice ring out again.

"It's Mayuri from Liriri Detective Agency!!!!! I came to save you!!!!"

"Let's go home, Harin!!!! You can't live here forever!!!!"

"Harin!!! Come out!!!! Your mom's waiting at home!!!!"

"...Are you insane?"

As I wandered the building yelling nonstop, Ryu Harin finally appeared.

"Harin! You're alive!"

"...Do you have a death wish? You don't know when it'll show up..., why scream...."

Thud, thud, thud....

"Ha.... It's here...."

And it wasn't just Ryu Harin who showed. Footsteps echoed. Unmistakably inhuman.

Soon, a massive monkey monster lumbered into view.

Our eyes met. The grotesque face grinned wickedly.

"Ugh...."

I swallowed hard. The blood smeared on its mouth screamed danger. Its bulging eyes gleamed with clear murderous intent. Or was "murderous" even right for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠prey?

"Screaming like that got the monster's attention...! ...I'll handle it somehow, so you run."

"No, I'm not the one running. Harin, you get out."

That's what I said.

"I'll hold the monster. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Escape first."

"You...?"

Ryu Harin blinked.

I'd thought it through. Sneaking around undetected to beat the monster to her? Tough. Time for a pivot.

I knew screaming would draw it. And this was exactly what I wanted—the monster coming to me before it got Ryu Harin.

"Head to the first floor, Harin."

"How can I leave you behind...."

She stared, puzzled. Meanwhile, the monster closed in.

Thud, thud, thud!

Each step made my jaw tremble. No Ari, no Lisa—facing a man-eater alone terrified me.

And yeah, a monster I'd never seen. No game had anything like it. Because this was a dream. Like the succubus analogy, dream monsters often lacked fixed forms.

I still hadn't figured out what it was.

'But that's fine....'

It wasn't totally unfamiliar, meaning I'd entered this dream before, met it, and survived. Alone.

So, I could handle it solo.

...Trust the me I can't remember.

I charged.

"?"

Didn't expect me to rush? The monster's eyes widened in surprise.

Running was futile with these legs anyway. If I had to fight, I'd pick the higher-odds play: surprise.

It worked—it hesitated.

I thrust my hand blade at it—

The monster recoiled.

—I knew it. Grinning monster.

It dodged my blade and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bared its teeth naturally.

'It learned...?!'

No other explanation. Unless it knew about my Bond Effect with Lisa—the once-a-day slice-anything power—why dodge?

Teeth incoming. Death closing in.

In one second, they'd pierce my neck.

But that second wasn't over.

Grind.

I clenched my teeth. Hesitate, die. Panic, die.

The barely recalled fact spurred me. I shut my left eye and shoved the ping-pong light at its face.

Fwosh! Max output. Blinding light assaulted my retina. Like a flashbang to the face. My right eye went blind instantly.

But before it did, it caught the monster squeezing its eyes shut against the glare.

I opened my left eye. The world regained color.

Now—push in. Hand blade extended.

Slash.

Clean decapitation. The head rolled across the floor. Blood sprayed from the stump, soaking me.

I survived.

Staring at the fallen monster, I exhaled.

I backed off to check its state.

Snicker snicker snicker.

The headless body—no, the severed head was laughing.

Seeing that grin triggered a flash from the 'previous run.'

'...The unkillable type of monster.'

This nightmare might be the monster itself. As long as Ryu Harin dreamed, that monkey could revive endlessly.

Ugh.... Better get out fast.

"Harin! Let's go!"

I grabbed for her hand—or tried.

"It's too close! I can go alone—don't treat me like a kid!"

She bolted before I touched her. Now I was chasing.

She had the height advantage and stamina confidence.... She pulled ahead fast.

Huff, huff....

Panting hard, I somehow kept up, reaching the first floor.

No pursuit. Neckless, maybe.

We reached the exit. Blood-written words greeted us.

"Ugh...."

Creepy to the end....

But no need to panic. The monster seemed content to let us go.

"Only asking now, but why are you here?"

Ryu Harin asked, now safe.

"W-Well..., the Foundation requested it...."

"Requested.... So you came to save me? ...Even risking your life?"

"Yeah, but...."

I couldn't recall my pre-dream thoughts on accepting. But as 'me,' I knew.

"...I'm a fixer. Gotta take some risks."

Facing monsters meant courting death. But dodging for self-preservation wasn't the answer.

My goal: true ending. Solving what the Foundation couldn't? Huge rep boost. More fame, closer to true end. Better Foundation ties. Cash. Saving lives.

No risk, no reward. To return home, I'd risk it all.

"I see.... Guess I owe you my life again."

Ryu Harin smiled faintly.

"Thanks. I'll buy you a meal when we get back."

"Th-Thanks later... L-Let's just get out....?"

Standing here creeped me out. Home, now.

"Right. Let's go."

She exited first. Once she was gone, I followed, relieved.

Headache. The telltale throb of waking. I slowly opened my eyes.

"Mayuri, you're awake?"

Disinfectant and Lisa greeted me. Lifting my head, I saw Ryu Harin—still asleep.

...?

"Ryu Harin? I definitely saved her?"

Staring at the unresponsive girl, I voiced my confusion.

Soon, Deputy Park Jong-cheol entered.

"Vitals check out—no anomalies. No signs of Ryu Harin waking."

......What?

What does that mean.... Don't tell me I have to go back in...?