Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Even as a Villain, I Want to Debut
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I already had a rough idea of where the talismans were hidden based on the original story. Unless there were any major changes, the talisman's location was...
"Found it."
The classroom where we'd first received instructions from the production team. It was the last place anyone would expect—the one we'd just come from.
Just like in the original story, opening locker number 17 revealed the talisman right on cue.
"Whoa, no way they hid it at the starting point. How'd you find it, hyung?"
Na Jae-hyun stared at me in amazement, having spotted the talisman so quickly.
I hadn't even checked anywhere else, pulling it straight from the first locker I'd opened. From his perspective, it had to feel like magic.
"Yeah, seriously. How'd you know, Na?"
I flashed a casual smile, pretending it was luck, and placed the talisman in the collection box.
'Collect ten of these, and we can get out of here.'
One down, nine to go.
I already knew every hiding spot in my head, but for the broadcast's sake, I'd decided to take it slow.
If I cleared them too fast, the game would end before they got enough footage.
"I wanna find one too!"
Na Jae-hyun, suddenly antsy, started darting around everywhere.
"We've got one from here already, so there might be more nearby."
"Wanna head outside then?"
The moment we stepped out of the classroom, a guide announcement crackled over the speakers at perfect timing.
"Wow, they even name who found it? Next one's mine for sure..."
Unlike me, who wasn't sweating it, Na Jae-hyun was already buzzing with determination to snag the next one.
"Hey, Won-woo!"
That's when we ran into Lee Hae-won emerging from the library.
He looked stunned at the news I'd found a talisman.
"What? How'd you find it? Right at the jump?"
"Just looped back to our starting classroom. There it was."
Lee Hae-won gawked at me with wide, bunny-like eyes before slumping in defeat, head hanging low.
"Lucky you. I've got squat."
"Keep at it, and you'll strike gold."
"Yeah, guess so?"
We split off from Lee Hae-won and kept moving.
As we rounded the bent hallway toward the next spot, we crossed paths with Kang In-hyeok coming the other way.
"In-hyeok hyung?"
He spotted us and hustled over like he'd been waiting for backup.
"What've you been up to, hyung?"
Kang In-hyeok had his hoodie zipped up tight, bundled from head to toe.
No way—is he actually spooked?
"You good?"
"......"
"Lookin' pretty rattled."
Kang In-hyeok crossed his arms and looked away like what're you on about? But no denial meant he was definitely scared.
"Lights are on, tons of people around—even if it's abandoned. What's the big deal?"
"...They kill all the lights when search time's up. Pitch black."
"So you're freaking out already?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at his trembling fear.
I knew his character was set up as timid, but seeing it play out was unexpectedly endearing. He had that icy aura on the surface...
"Ghosts that terrifying?"
"......"
"Chill, hyung. Not real ones—just staff in makeup."
Na Jae-hyun patted his back to reassure him, but Kang In-hyeok shot back defiantly.
"I know! Think I'm stupid? I get they're busting their asses in costume to freak us out!"
Kang In-hyeok was hyped up, way out of character.
True to his rapper roots, every word landed with razor-sharp diction.
"But knowing doesn't stop the jump scare. Horror flicks are all CG ghosts, right? Still freaks your brain if it looks real."
"...Fair."
Na Jae-hyun nodded like he got it.
'Sigh...'
Kang In-hyeok and Na Jae-hyun.
Stick 'em together, and it's nonstop nonsense fest.
"Not the time. We gotta hunt talismans. Ghosts don't drop till night anyway..."
Right on cue.
Speak of the devil.
The speakers blared the announcement, and the whole building plunged into blackout.
Every light in the abandoned school winked out at once. Total darkness everywhere. As we froze, disoriented...
"...Hic."
A hiccup sounded from right next to me.
"That you, In-hyeok hyung?"
"...No. Hic."
Kang In-hyeok tried denying it in embarrassment but hiccuped again. Why bother lying when it'd blow up anyway?
Na Jae-hyun cracked up at the sight.
"Hahaha! Hyung, that scared?"
"Shu—hic—t up."
"Who knew? Total scaredy-cat."
Sudden rustling from somewhere.
I pressed a finger to my lips and shushed. The two clowns shut up on a dime.
'Whew, false alarm.'
I turned back to them.
"Hear that? Ghosts incoming. Staff in costume. Dodge 'em and search smart."
"...Can't we just hide till dawn? Daytime search works fine."
Eh, sure, but...
For killer footage, night moves were prime. Dramatic shots came easier.
'Always-go-getter Kang In-hyeok's so spooked he's ditching screen time.'
I flicked on my flashlight and aimed it at him.
"If you're that shook, hyung, wanna hole up solo in a bathroom stall?"
His face in the beam: pure horror. Solo bathroom? Peak nightmare fuel.
"Just stick with me."
We pressed on down the hall. Lights out shifted the vibe completely.
Dead-silent corridor. Single flashlight beam cutting the dark. Ghost ambush any second.
Nerves on edge—
"Hyung. Know what?"
Na Jae-hyun whispered.
"Horror flicks got those cliches, y'know."
Voice all low—I figured serious intel. Nope, just tired tropes.
"Always a first to die. Of us three, who ya betting croaks first?"
Who dies first?
Dunno. Pick wrong, irony bites.
Mulling it, Kang In-hyeok tossed from behind.
"The chatty one?"
Na Jae-hyun halted.
"Me?"
"Nah, not you specifically. Chatty types die."
"Same diff."
Shushed 'em again to kill the noise.
One-on-one? Breeze. Duo? Headache city.
"Where we even going?"
"Science lab."
Hidden there in the original. Solid odds.
World sim might've shuffled a few, though.
"Trust me and follow."
We beelined for the lab at hall's end.
Flashlight our only guide, shuffling along. Their chatter drifted over.
"Jae-hyun."
"Yeah?"
"Ghost grabs me—you ditching?"
Kang In-hyeok, asking that? To barely-acquainted Na Jae-hyun.
'Scared shitless.'
Na Jae-hyun grinned mischievously.
"Duh?"
"...Wow."
"Don't get butt-hurt, hyung. You ditch me too."
Kang In-hyeok eyed me.
"Won-woo."
My turn...
"Yeah, hyung."
"Don't ditch."
Roaring laughter.
Joke-ish, but dead serious undertone. Voice pure desperation.
"No sweat. You get nabbed, I'll Houdini us out..."
Then—
Black shape exploded from the bathroom ahead.
First scream? Kang In-hyeok, predictably.
"Aaaaaah!"
Glance back: him on the floor, Na Jae-hyun ghosted already.
Lightning legs. Talked ditch, delivered warp speed...
Back to the shadow.
'What. Not ghost.'
Flashlight hit: figure shielding eyes with handback. Familiar mug.
"Ah, Lee Hyo-seop sunbaenim."
Lee Hyo-seop burst laughing.
"Huh?"
"Wrong?"
"Nah, spot on. But 'Lee Hyo-seop sunbaenim' feels off."
First real chat with him, I think.
Weird. Dorm life ages, zero convos till now.
"Hyung's fine. Casual."
Says the mute one.
"Headed where?"
"Science lab."
"Sorry for the scare."
Glanced over. His gaze: Kang In-hyeok, face buried in hands.
"Bad jolt?"
"Not that bad."
"Cool. Onward?"
New teammate acquired.
'Na Jae-hyun bailed to Narnia.'
Talked big, bolted insta. Reflexes elite.
"Kid's got wheels."
"Jae-hyun?"
"Yeah. Poof—like a ghost."
Kang In-hyeok twitched hard at "ghost."
One-word trigger. Peak panic mode.
"Mind if I tag?"
Kang In-hyeok nodded.
"Hell yeah. Strength in numbers."
Psych boost, sure. But group = ghost magnet?
Shrugged it off, teamed with Lee Hyo-seop.
'Eh... this work?'
Silence choked the hall trek. Walking with chatless Lee Hyo-seop felt off.
"We're here."
Science lab.
"In?"
Handle in grip, Kang In-hyeok quivered.
"Yo, hold up."
"What."
"...Nothin'."
"Entering."
Itched to grab and bounce, yanked door open.
Stygian dark inside. Flash sweep: human model first hit.
"Gah...!"
Kang In-hyeok yelped behind me.
Prime scare zone. Beam nailed the mannequin's organ dummy. Heart-attack visuals for the faint.
"Rough one?"
Kang In-hyeok iced solid, Lee Hyo-seop chill. Stark contrast—hilarious.
"Talisman hunt?"
We scoured the lab corner to corner.
Hung back from their frenzy, eyed the cabinet. Original spot.
'Have Lee Hyo-seop crack it.'
Low-ranker needs airtime bad.
Talisman inside? His hero moment broadcasts.
"Hyo-seop hyung."
"Yeah?"
He approached.
"Open this?"
"This? Why?"
"Dunno. Vibes."
Dubious glance, but hand extended anyway.
Cabinet flew open—white-gowned thing launched.
"Duck!"
Lee Hyo-seop shoved me lightspeed.
'The hell.'
It toppled ahead, flopping between us. Gown-stuffed cotton doll. Crew prank rig.
"Ah..."
We traded awkward stares.
'Original swore talisman here.'
Plot veers. Tweaks creeping in.
'Also, banmal slip earlier?'
Stiff polite till crisis autopilot.
"...Casual from now?"
"Why not."
"You beat me to it."
He chuckled, propping the doll as I spoke.
"Hey, got it! Found one."
Voice from back—Kang In-hyeok waving a talisman like a trophy.