Bug Princess (2)
Saga-gak... Saga-gak... The girl in the black dress approaches Eunha. From beneath her voluminous skirt comes the sound of countless bugs crawling.
Ah. I really hate this. I'm so exhausted I could die—couldn't she just pass by quietly?
Molbang~.
Eunha tries hard not to imagine what's inside the goth loli girl's skirt, racking her brain instead. She fiddles absently with her breasts, which have grown even larger since yesterday.
What do I do? Ignoring her would be tough... Should I try talking?
How should she handle the girl in front of her? She has no clue.
The Red Woman required holding salt in her mouth and hiding in the bathroom for ten minutes—what could it be this time? Should she sprinkle salt on her face?
If only the Black Book were here, things might be better, but unfortunately, she'd left it at home when heading to work this morning. Yesterday, it hadn't suddenly appeared on the living room table either. She'd wondered if the Black Book only showed up whenever those things appeared, so as an experiment, she'd left it home and gone to work. The book was too big and heavy to carry everywhere anyway.
And now, faced with this mysterious goth loli girl, a glance around reveals no sign of the Black Book. It doesn't conveniently pop up whenever danger strikes, then. Meaning, to check the "guide" in time, she has to carry the Black Book with her always.
Good thing I checked ahead... Alright, decision made. I'll give a casual greeting and head home to crash.
After a moment's deliberation, Eunha drags her suitcase toward the goth loli girl, step by step.
What good is agonizing alone without the Black Book? She decides to leave it to luck. Worst case, she'll do another talent show. And hey? Her body was already torn to shreds last night, heart ripped out and all. What can this seductive girl-monster do to someone who doesn't die from that? That's me. Euncheon-gu's Soft Fist. Tongue-soy-pickle expert. The blandest woman in the world.
With her brain switched off, courage surges. Approaching the girl, Eunha flashes a friendly smile and greets her.
"Haha, hello. That parasol really suits you."
A plain greeting felt awkward, so she compliments the black parasol that catches her eye. At the same time, she subtly flashes the salt packet from her suitcase, gauging the girl's reaction.
…….
Eunha speaks first, and the goth loli girl opens her mouth slightly in apparent surprise. Unexpected, huh? Well, anyone in their right mind wouldn't casually chat in a situation like this.
Realizing Eunha isn't quite right in the head, the girl lifts her lips into a crescent moon smile, showing interest.
「……Is that so. This parasol suits me quite well, does it.」
Saga-gak... The girl twirls her black parasol and draws closer to Eunha. The creepy bug footsteps echo endlessly from beneath her skirt.
「Yes, nice to meet you. Little one clumsily hiding your scars... That scarf around your neck suits you well. But it looks hot.」
"Haha. I hear that a lot. Got it, so stay back, okay?"
The girl-monster approaches while complimenting her scarf. Eunha backs away, thrusting out the salt packet. Is this how priests feel waving crucifixes at ghosts in horror movies? It's a form of self-comfort. When you have nothing else, you do what you can—even knowing it won't work.
「…An amusing little one.」
Perhaps Eunha looks pathetic, fearfully smiling while brandishing the salt packet. The girl-monster smirks seductively and steps forward slowly, one by one.
One step. The parasol-shaded girl reaches out, trying to take Eunha's salt packet.
Two steps. Eunha retreats, opening the packet to threaten her. Thirsty, she licks some tasting salt off her finger. A bit bland. Should've grabbed the coarse stuff.
Three steps. Eunha draws a salt line on the hallway floor. Salt, the occult's all-purpose purifier and demon-repeller. Maybe it'll work a little.
Four steps. The girl deliberately steps on the salt line and advances. No dice, huh. Whatever now. Eunha plunges her hand into the salt packet, grabbing a fistful of salty goodness.
Crunch—!
Five steps. The girl-monster glides forward lightly and snaps Eunha's wrist with one hand. The clutched salt spills in a patter. Her pulverized wrist dangles pitifully like rice crackers.
"Kyaak......"
「Sorry. I hate getting my clothes dirty.」
"Ah, no... Just say it......"
「Done with your antics? Then, little one. Show me your face.」
Having crushed Eunha's resistance along with her wrist, the girl-monster closes in. As the black lace parasol nearly brushes Eunha's face, the girl reaches out and removes her mask and cap.
「Ho. Quite the beauty for a little one.」
Even with her eyes shaded by the parasol, she praises Eunha's bare face sincerely. Her fingers gently caress the black scarf around Eunha's neck. Each gesture drips with seductive allure, impossible to look away from.
Saga-gak... Saga-gak... The sound of bugs crawling. Cicadas chirping in summer somewhere. Cherry lips peeking from under the parasol. Upturned corners of her mouth.
Like a bug drawn by pheromones, Eunha feels an inexplicable fondness for the girl-monster before her.
Squeeze...
Then, the girl tugs lightly at Eunha's scarf. Here it comes at last. Eunha steels herself.
Scarf... So, strangling? Nice and clean.
Resistance abandoned since her wrist was wrecked by those slender hands. She might survive this too, but Eunha has confidence anyway. Baseless confidence that it'll work out somehow.
Honestly, after being butchered head to toe and having her heart ripped out—and living—what's a little choking? Eyes closed, she holds her breath, tenses her neck, and awaits the pain.
…….
「Hehe. Take care of yourself. See you again, little one.」
"……?"
Smack.
But what touches her closed eyes is a ticklish floral scent at her nose and soft sensation on her cheek. Startled, Eunha opens her eyes. The girl-monster has already stepped back, hiding her eyes behind the parasol with a sly smile as she brushes past.
Saga-gak... Saga-gak... Twirling her parasol happily, as if something good happened, the goth loli girl heads to the 10th floor amid countless bug footsteps.
Stunned, Eunha stares blankly at the girl's ascending back. She never looks back, vanishing around the stairwell corner.
Flicker. Flicker.
The hallway lights flicker twice. The binding terror dissolves like mist. The elevator dings normally, doors opening; the dim stairs below regain their light.
"Uh... um."
Left alone, Eunha touches her left cheek—kissed by the girl—and stands rooted for a while.
She survived. Sure, she lived, but... why this nagging unease? Like expecting fizzy soda only to find it flat—petty disappointment.
Hmm... Yeah, somehow it worked out great!
Survival is victory. Bargaining her wrist for life is a profit. One oddity: the stairs to the 10th floor remain, though the girl is gone. A new floor that didn't exist yesterday—creepy. No normal human lives there, that's for sure.
Worried something might descend, Eunha drags her salt-filled suitcase hurriedly home.
…….
Safely back in her '904' apartment. So exhausted...
She props the suitcase by the shoe cabinet and flops onto the sofa, dragging her weary body to the living room.
The Black Book left behind this morning reeks of blood, just like yesterday. A strange-eyed bookmark is inserted—a drawing of an eyeball peering through finger-framed window.
Eunha stares down the bookmark's eye, then opens to its page.
The revealed page holds the "guide" she needs.
1. This guide was created to encourage harmonious neighborly living for all residents of 'Saetbyeol Apartment,' including you.
- Distributed free to all apartment residents.
1-1. If the guide is lost or damaged.
- Please visit the apartment entrance security office directly to receive a new one.
1-2. If part of the guide's 'table of contents' is missing.
- Act at your discretion until the item returns to normal.
- Wishing you luck.
2. A young lady in a black dress has moved in.
- She likes pranks and compliments.
- Anything small is fine. Compliment our playful young lady.
- She repays compliments with compliments, and other things with their like.
- However, repeating the same compliment may make her sulky.
#Caution! Do not deliberately meet her eyes or lift her skirt.
"Phew... Good thing I complimented her."
Reading the new guide, Eunha sighs in relief. Compliments make her pass peacefully. If she'd frozen in fear or thrown salt first, disaster. Her broken wrist? Just the little lady's prank. Already healing thanks to Self-Regeneration. Tingling nerve pain when moving aside, it's fine.
Positive living pays off. Amazed by her foresight, Eunha pores over the Black Book.
That goth loli with the bug footsteps... Nameless, so Bug Princess with affection. Meeting her showed that knowing how to handle these things makes the situation bearable.
Bug Princess just needs compliments; yesterday's Red Woman nearly passed peacefully, salt drop notwithstanding.
Compared to the primal terror and resistance-crushing aura... The Black Book's "rules" are too simple.
What's the point? Not trying to kill me... Fine. Think tomorrow.
Closing the book, Eunha yawns hugely and rises. Clock says 1 PM. Too early for bed, but after no sleep yesterday, it's late for her.
"Yawwn... Balcony's open, so...... Nighty-night."
Tucking the Black Book under her arm, she enters the bedroom, strips off outer clothes and underwear onto the floor, and dives into the fluffy bed. The healing sensation is divine. Without covers, clutching the book to her chest, she falls into deep sleep.
…….
……Rattle...
Soon, the balcony door slides open. Something enters the living room. It surveys the silent space, then heads to the bedroom where Eunha sleeps.
…….
Something stands motionless by the bed. It gazes silently at the dead-to-the-world Eunha. Exhausted, uncovered in sleep. Unlike yesterday, she's out cold today.
Confirming her deep slumber, Something quietly climbs onto the bed.
Soon, night falls.