Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Smiling Mask
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63.
All the lights in the circus tent went out.
A pitch-black darkness filled the space, fitting the term blackout perfectly.
Kikik- Kikik.
...Machine noise?
The sound of small gears creaking as they turned drilled into my ears.
Kikikikik-.
The grating metallic screech of rusted parts rubbing irregularly made my face scrunch up involuntarily.
And soon after.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
In that space where endless pitch-black darkness seemed to stretch out, dazzling lights suddenly poured down, dyeing everything around in brilliant illumination.
A hazy figure gradually took shape beyond my blurred vision.
What appeared before our eyes was.
A massive stage.
One I'd never seen even once since arriving here.
Under the blinding lights, the sharply defined stage slowly revealed itself.
Kikikikik-
An utterly repulsive metallic screech echoed as the thick curtain covering the stage slowly parted to both sides, simultaneously unveiling the hidden spectacle of the stage bit by bit before us.
The moment all the curtains vanished and my gaze reached the stage.
The people in black suits turned their heads in unison to stare at the stage, repeating the same motion.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Their movements matched perfectly, as if they were one body.
And as if synchronized to an invisible conductor's signal.
They all began clapping in unison.
Staring at the empty stage with nothing on it.
Like dolls with loose screws.
Without rest, endlessly.
As if they existed solely to clap.
Grip-
But.
One man alone did not clap. No, he couldn't clap.
'...It's coming.'
Click-clack-
!
Click-clack-
The sharp sound of shoe heels striking my ears.
Footsteps approaching deliberately, as if announcing its presence with noise.
I focused my gaze there.
A small-statured figure.
A pierrot wearing a mask with clear tear streaks slowly emerged from the darkness.
It was the Tear Mask.
But it exuded a completely different aura from the one until just moments ago.
Click-clack-
When the Tear Mask's footsteps stopped precisely at the center of the stage.
.........Bow.
It deeply bowed its waist toward us outside the stage, offering a polite greeting.
And when it raised its head again.
Crrunch-
An unpleasant friction sound scraped the space.
What was there was an entirely different being.
Crrunch-
Drip.
Its small body began to twist.
Its short limbs elongated, and with each joint snapping, the sound of breaking branches leaked out.
Crrunch-
The Tear Mask's outfit tore open, revealing a pierrot costume adorned with flashy ribbons and decorations.
The sparkling sequins glistened under the lights, but that sheen was damp and repulsive.
With the final creak from its neck bones.
☻
A man holding a pure white mask engraved with a bright smile appeared before our eyes.
....
'It’s out.'
It had to come out eventually.
Among the Pierrot Trio, the one I least wanted to meet in this ghost story....
No, correction.
The eldest brother of the four siblings, the absolute last one I wanted to encounter no matter what.
- Smiling Mask.
Holding the mask in one hand.
It slowly bowed while maintaining a pulled-up smile at the corners of its mouth.
【♤Greetings to the audience.】
Its face was dyed in a mad smile, and its toes lightly tapped the stage like a ballerina.
【♤Come on, everyone! Cheers and applause!】
Then it extended its hand toward the empty stage with an exaggerated gesture.
==========
/Handling Caution.
/Wonderriot Circus.
[Smiling Mask]
:Single Identification Code Cd-A-☺☻☺
Angry Mask, Love Mask, Tear Mask.
When two of these three are subdued, it appears. (Only one must remain.)
If the Smiling Mask appears on stage and delivers its opening line.
Clap immediately.
Cheer loudly.
Show positive reactions to all its actions, lines, and performances.
Even a little.
If you want to die a little less painfully.
Physical Suppression ☻
Mental Damage ☻
*Additional Notes.
Perfect weather for a show today ☻.
==========
...Damn, damn, damn!
I hadn't captured the Love Mask right away to avoid summoning the Smiling Mask.
I planned to capture the Tear Mask simultaneously.
The preparations were complete.
All I needed to do was pull out the quill pen.
But....
Everything went wrong.
At those screw-loose faces of theirs, I swallowed a bitter smile inwardly.
It was because of those idiots casually applauding toward the Smiling Mask.
My carefully laid plan shook in an instant due to an unforeseen variable.
The GRA agents were clapping like puppets with stupid expressions.
I thought the GRA agents would have prepared thoroughly for emotional synchronization, from training to issued items.
At least, I thought so.
I thought it would be fine.
I assumed the GRA agents naturally had immunity items too.
That was my mistake.
Soon, a cheerful voice echoed throughout the circus.
【♤...It's been a while. It really feels like ages since this Smiling Mask last saw you all!!】
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap.
The GRA agents applauding along with the Smiling Mask's cheerful voice.
But amid them, the gaze turned to the woman in the bear doll mask, the only one not clapping.
“......What the hell is this.”
“!!”
Hansol was the only one here maintaining her sense of self.
Thinking about it, the fact that she, classified as a civilian, was still sane amid this chaos was a mystery in itself.
I had so many questions to ask.
But.
Right now, it wasn't important.
I could ask the reason later.
Stopping the bizarre entity before me now.
That took top priority.
“Human!”
“Yes, yes!”
No time for explanations.
Saving the GRA agents was already too late.
Now, I had to utilize everything.
Especially when every single person mattered.
Unless I used every available card at full power....
We die here.
Slaughtered by that Smiling Mask. I immediately shouted loudly toward Hansol.
“Plug your ears right now! You absolutely must not listen to that thing's voice!”
“!!”
No reply came from Hansol.
But she moved without hesitation.
She firmly plugged her ears using the plush doll arms.
Her reaction was faster than words.
‘Well done, Miss Hansol!’
The appearance was utterly makeshift, but right now, it was a hundred—no, a thousand times better than just standing there helplessly.
Squeeze!
I too firmly plugged my ears with both hands.
As the two of us simultaneously blocked our ears and halted our movements.
The Smiling Mask paused for a moment.
More precisely.
It was making a gesture as if acting out ‘surprise.’
【♤Oh dear? This is surprising. Have you met me before, audience member?】
The Smiling Mask dramatically covered its mouth.
Its round, wide eyes were exaggerated like a cartoon character, its whole body trembling as it stepped back.
【♤Ah! Oh no, your ears are plugged. So, was I just talking to myself? How embarrassing...... So shy.】
The Smiling Mask cupped its cheeks with its hands, shrugged its shoulders, and turned away coyly.
“......”
But when no reply came from me as expected.
The Smiling Mask's voice sank low.
Slowly, as if whispering, it permeated the space.
【♤Now seems like the time for fireworks to match this grand entrance...... Don't you think so, everyone ☻】
Boom! Boom! Boom!
!!!
With just one word.
The moment its single word ended, the GRA agents' heads burst like flower petals, spraying blood droplets and gray matter.
Without the slightest warning.
Where the heads of the agents who had been clapping just moments ago should have been.
Only empty air and blood-soaked debris fluttered.
Click-clack-
!
The sharp shoe heel sound rang out clearly once more.
Even though my ears were plugged, that vibration rode the ear ridges and echoed precisely.
‘As expected.........’
Couldn't block it with such a simple method....
Swish-
I slowly released my hands from my ears.
And I stared at the face of the thing before me, its mask bearing an unpleasant smile I couldn't tell was laughing or sneering.
【♤Did you feel it? The helplessness? My cheerful voice can't be blocked by such a simple method.】
【♤And, audience member, it seems you have much...... very much to talk about with me.】
“......”
My mind tangled complexly.
Cold sweat trickling down my nape soaked my back.
‘Truly, the worst timing.’
I ground my teeth inwardly.
Why now, of all times.
Why did everything have to go wrong at this exact moment.
But.
I couldn't give up.
Sensation returned to my fingertips.
I drew in a breath.
Grip......
....
...It's there.
It was there.
There was still a way to send it back.
Swish-
My gaze turned to the white skull mark engraved on my wrist.
The symbol of the worst misfortune.
‘Unlucky Day.’
Along with the chilling sensation seeping from inside my coat. Just moments ago, the ghost story log that had flashed in my mind raced by again.
==========
/Handling Caution.
/Wonderriot Circus.
[Smiling Mask]
:Single Identification Code Cd-A-☻☺☻
Angry Mask, Love Mask, Tear Mask.
When two of these three are subdued, it appears. (Only one must remain.)
.
.
.
==========
I can do it.
Inside Park Yeon-jeong's possession is the quill pen that captured the Angry Mask.
If I can release it like with the Princess ghost story....
‘...Sorry, Mr. Noise.’
But I have to survive too.
If I break the quill pen once more and summon the recaptured Angry Mask here again.
I can send the Smiling Mask back.
And right now, I needed to create a split-second opening to drop the quill pen to the floor.
My rigid gaze turned not elsewhere but to the two Bear Dolls flanking me, protecting me.
I gave a slight eye signal toward the first and third Bear Dolls.
...Nod.
...Nod.
‘Thank you so much, Bear Dolls.’
Whether they fully understood my intent, I couldn't tell.
But right now, time was of the essence.
No room to worry.
So, I trusted.
Bear Dolls...... I trust you.
...Swish.
I slowly slipped my right hand into the inner coat pocket.
The Smiling Mask continued its monologue.
【♤My siblings said something about you. ‘Punish us please.’】
“......”
‘That was self-defense!’
Otherwise, I would've died at their hands first.
Swish.
Grip-
!
The tactile sensation at my fingertips.
This time, it was definitely the quill pen.
I must not grab the wrong thing like last time.
【♤But I know. My untimely siblings must have bothered you first. I understand. Completely.】
I ignored its words again.
With all our fates hanging on my fingertips right now. Its voice couldn't reach my ears.
Nod.
With my short signal of nodding.
Dash dash dash dash dash!!
The first and third Bear Dolls charged toward the Smiling Mask in unison.
But....
It either hadn't noticed the situation yet or continued its monologue.
【♤But I too have business with you, audience member. How about a frank chat with me for a moment-?】
Flash-!
I raised one hand high and immediately hurled the quill pen straight toward the floor.
Dash dash dash!
Just a step before our Bear Dolls pounced on the Smiling Mask.
【♤However......】
!!
It changed.
The direction of the voice changed.
The sound that had been coming from ahead until just now.
Now slithered in from behind.
【♤It seems you're not yet in the posture to listen to stories.】
Shake-
In the Smiling Mask's hand was the quill pen I'd just thrown.
‘This bastard, no way!’
It knew from the start....
The Smiling Mask murmured lowly.
【♤Looks like some preparation is needed. First, I'll take those two legs for a bit.】
Whoosh-!
?!
Suddenly, strength drained from my legs, and I toppled to the floor.
Splat-
?
My line of sight lowered.
My legs felt limp.
But.
A burning pain surged from around my thighs.
A sensation as if something burst beneath my skin, red veins bulging massively.
My vision dyed red.
What....
Dangle dangle.
My whole body froze at the sight of the two long somethings dangling from its grasp.
The Smiling Mask tilted its head sideways, infusing its voice with cheerful laughter.
【♤Now you're finally in the posture to listen. Looking good ☻】
......Sizzle.
Sizzle.
Sizzle.
All sensations flared up ominously.
I wanted to avert my eyes from the horrific reality before me.
No, I desperately wished it was just a dream, a nightmare at best.
But, cruelly.
Where my two legs should have been.
Only empty air remained.
A red puddle of blood, flesh, and gray matter soaked the floor.
I wanted to deny it.
But reality was cold and merciless.
The pain sweeping over my body began mocking me, as if ridiculing the fact that I was alive.
“Kuaaaaaaaaagh!”
A scream tore involuntarily from my mouth.
Hot.
Burning.
It hurts.
The stabbing pain in my flesh was driving me mad.
If I didn't scream right this instant, I'd lose consciousness as is.
Heh heh huh.
But the Smiling Mask's voice carried a faint smile.
【♤Hmm- Fine melody.】
Crackle-
The brief static that flashed past my ears mixed with one man's scream, echoing throughout the space for a while.
And slipping through that gap.
The Smiling Mask's voice rang out.
In a lively, eerie tone.
【♤Everyone! It's not over yet! Come on, louder! More excitedly!】
【♤Let's enjoy it. Very, very thoroughly.......】
*****
Crackle—
The static leaking from the speaker directly struck and spread through the depths of my mind.
It seemed to flow from a cracked speaker, but in reality, it was shaking the deepest part of my consciousness.
That voice mixed with metallic tones was cold and somehow familiar.
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
My name.
[Let's play together, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
As that chillingly leisurely statement ended.
In the library's darkness, red lights blinked one, two, three times.
And finally.
The lights focused on the empty stage.
That space with no one in it glistened solely with light.
[The protagonist of the final stage is...]
The voice echoed lowly, but it was still directed only at me.
All gazes were invisible, permeating only the silence within me.
At that moment.
My right arm began to tremble faintly.
A chilling energy like electricity flowed from my fingertips to my elbow.
[None other than...]
In my mind, like that single declaration echoing in moments of crisis.
The voice whispered.
[Us.]