Eight-Foot Ghost (2)

Is there any other anomaly that's become as wildly popular in subculture as the Eight-Foot Ghost? At some point, it started getting depicted as a cute girl quite often. And thanks to its massive size, it's frequently portrayed with immense physical strength.

But if you actually read the original ghost stories, the Eight-Foot Ghost is more like a curse than anything else. It's said that not everyone can see it, and if it possesses you, you'll die within days.

Basically, only those cursed by the Eight-Foot Ghost can ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠see it. And it mimics human voices to lure its victim out. It's closer to an intelligent ghost that relies on wits rather than brute force.

"...And of all people, it's Ryu Harin who's been possessed by the Eight-Foot Ghost."

This was a real pickle. No one else could see it except Ryu Harin.

"Mayuri, what should we do?"

"Let's save Ryu Harin first..."

I steadied my breath and approached her. Ryu Harin looked startled.

"Y-You... Why are you here...?"

"Explanations later! Harin, where's the monster?"

Ryu Harin blinked in confusion, then pointed toward the car.

"Th-There... You could be in danger too, so stay away from me! Hurry!"

She was saying that, but saving a life came first. Even if it meant rolling in shit, survival was key. Only then could I enjoy delicious food like today, play fun games, and maybe one day return home.

In the midst of the invisible monster, I declared,

"I'm Ryu Harin!"

The Eight-Foot Ghost was fixated on her, so it'd probably only interact with Ryu Harin. And the biggest issue: there was no clear way to exorcise it. Even in the original tales, the best they could do was trap it in the village with a statue of Ksitigarbha.

But maybe my "Cute Girl Punch" could handle it. For that, it'd need to fixate on me instead. So, I'd have to pretend to be Ryu Harin.

Failed.

Ugh.

"C-Cute Girl Punch!"

I swung at empty air. Maybe it was just invisible, but the Cute ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Girl Mod still applied? But no message appeared like with Kunekune.

Uuuugh...

"Th-Then how about this! Cute Girl Slash!"

"I've done all I can..."

I'd thrown everything I had at it, and nothing happened. First time seeing a Bond Effect failure message, too. Lisa said she couldn't sense it either.

Ari?

"?"

She just tilted her head. Yeah, figured as much. If I and Lisa couldn't touch it, what could our little furball do...?

"What now, Mayuri?"

"We run, duh..."

"Then excuse me."

Lisa hoisted Ryu Harin onto her back and bolted. ...Which meant I had to get carried by Ari too. Being piggybacked by our kitten was humiliating, but no choice. This universe's top-tier cute girl body was as fragile as it was adorable.

And so we fled the Eight-Foot Ghost.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

I couldn't see it, but its footsteps boomed loudly.

The Eight-Foot Ghost pursued relentlessly. With its enormous height came huge strides—and terrifying speed. The originals described it matching a car. At this rate, it'd catch us.

I quickly activated my Bond Effect with Miyeong.

A door appeared ahead, with a "Beauty Salon" sign. Lisa kicked it open and dashed inside, Ari following with me on her back.

"Welcome, miss. Here for a haircut?"

Miyeong's voice echoed. I yelled,

"Close the door!"

"Pardon?"

"Close the door! Keep everyone out!"

Miyeong nodded, and the door slammed shut with a click.

Bang bang bang bang bang!

Pounding followed. I freaked, but the door held firm. It rattled the handle desperately, then gave up. Silence.

Haa... I sighed in relief.

"We escaped somehow..."

Truth be told, I had my own dilemmas. I'd figured the Eight-Foot Ghost was inevitable. It was one of those anomalies hyper-popular for cute girl fanart, and I had the Cute Girl Mod. Honestly, I didn't want more cute girls... It was already overwhelming.

This world didn't respect me. Did it think I was some cute girl caretaker? I had my own ego, human rights, freedom!

But still... representing otakudom worldwide, shouldn't the Eight-Foot Ghost become a cute girl? It felt like an unwritten rule.

So I'd agonized over it. But it wouldn't interact with me? All that worry for nothing.

Well, I'd collected too many cute girls lately. Even Eight-Foot Ghost girls might feel cliché now?

Seemed impossible. Got a problem, humans? Take it up with Ryu Harin, not me. Her fault, not mine.

"Just a hairline fracture in the bone, nothing else serious."

Lisa reported. Having prepped human flesh countless times, she knew bodies inside out. Ryu Harin was truly fine.

Relieved her life wasn't in danger, I relaxed.

"You have some unusual powers."

Ryu Harin glanced around the salon and remarked. I'd used a Bond Effect right in front of her—no denying it. Cautiously, I said,

"Keep it secret from the Foundation, please..."

"What do you take me for? Do I seem ungrateful?"

"Just in case..."

"I won't say a word."

Ryu Harin sighed.

"You've saved me three times now... You think I'd put my benefactor in jeopardy?"

Frankly... I figured Ryu Harin would keep my Cute Girl Mod secret. Prideful tsundere, player-friendly NPC despite her "superstar anchovy" unluckiness. No one would save a villainous character.

So.

...How do I save her for good?

Using the Bond Effect to flee here was lucky, but temporary. Miyeong's power: "Install a beauty salon door anywhere once a day." Experiments showed exiting returned you to the spot before entry—the accident site, where the ghost lurked.

It was just a temporary shelter, not true escape. We'd have to solve it here before leaving.

"M-Miyeong..."

"Yes, miss."

"...Can you deal with the Eight-Foot Ghost?"

I asked, recalling she'd beheaded a virgin ghost before. Maybe this too?

But Miyeong slowly shook her head.

"Sorry, miss. I don't think so."

"You can't see it either...?"

"Yes. I sensed its presence when it knocked, but it's beyond me. Probably not a regular ghost."

"...Figures."

Called a "ghost," but not like wandering. No one knew its true nature in the originals—was it a dead soul turned Eight-Foot, or always a monster?

Anyway... we were screwed. Cute Girl Punch: no. Ari: no. Lisa: no. Taemi: pointless. Miyeong: in use. Untouchable by them, hard to outrun car-speed ghost. What ride even?

...Any cards left?

"Don't worry about it."

As I racked my brain, Ryu Harin spoke.

"Worst case, live here forever. Forget me and get back to your life, Mayuri."

"...Live here?"

"No other way. Better than dying or turning monstrous. Kinda fitting for me."

She added the Foundation would just isolate her with it anyway.

Staying here could work. It fixated only on her, couldn't enter, and no death flags inside. Protect her while waiting for Foundation/Special Task Force to handle it.

Which meant...

...I'd have to babysit Ryu Harin too?

Miyeong ran it, but it was my base since she belonged to me. Already struggling with monster girls, now a living human? Dizzying. And she's an adult, not a baby like Ari. Handle your own rights!

Besides, not livable long-term. Miyeong ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠maintained it, but monsters popped in. Hard to eat, sleep, bathe. Fine for days, not forever.

Doubt Foundation could solve it—only she saw it. She might be stuck here for life. One step closer to anchovy patronage. Ugh.

No way... I'll figure it out myself.

Was there really no solution? I opened the codex.

Invisible but present. Either interact via Ryu Harin as proxy, or force direct contact bypassing her. Worth a shot?

After much deliberation, I spoke.

"...Come here a sec, Nao."

My vision blurred, exhaustion crashed over me—and Nao appeared before my eyes.

"Huh? Yuri-unnie...? Why am I here...?"

"Nao, can you help me out?"

I asked. Nao blinked.

"What do I do, unnie?"