Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Black Flame Man?
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77.
Black Flame Man?
It was truly the first time I'd ever heard that ghost story name. Unlike how Lee Jui immediately came to mind.
A new ghost story?
The name "Black Flame Man" didn't bring anything specific to mind.
'A ghost story I don't know about?'
I racked my brains.
I couldn't use the Top Student Glasses in front of Lee Jui, so I tried to recall as much as possible.
Black Flame Man....
Black flames....
Black flames?
Black......!!
Ah....
It hit me.
I double-checked with Lee Jui about what I'd recalled.
"Executive Director Yi Sang-mu, does this ghost story called 'Black Flame Man' appear with black flames flickering around its head and dressed in a black suit?"
At my deep, low question, Lee Jui replied.
"Yes... that's correct. A Team has also... submitted some kind of... report on it...."
If it was the guy I knew, I had more questions for Lee Jui.
"...Executive Director Yi Sang-mu. May I ask how the agency has rated that ghost story?"
"The rating for the Black Flame... Man hasn't been... definitively decided yet."
There was a gravity in Lee Jui's voice.
"But...."
Lee Jui voiced her personal opinion on this ghost story.
"I think... that ghost story is 'S-Rank'...."
"...I see. I don't have any specific information to share since nothing's been officially confirmed... but there's one thing I can tell you."
"I'll... hear it."
Matching Lee Jui's serious tone, I gathered myself and added to it.
"You should avoid approaching that Black Flame Man ghost story as much as possible."
"...May I ask... why?"
Why, huh....
To Lee Jui, who wanted to know the reason, I dropped my gaze slightly to the floor.
And answered in a low, steady voice.
"......Actually, I've encountered that ghost story before."
"!!"
Lee Jui's eyes widened.
She reacted—even she, who hadn't shown a flicker of agitation throughout our conversation. Her eyes were focused intently on my voice.
I watched her reaction.
And continued.
"I only encountered it once, but beneath its uniquely calm speech, I felt a presence on a completely different level from any ghost story I'd met before."
"...'It's beyond standards, an irregular existence.'... Is that what you're saying?"
"I got the sense it was something that brings disaster... So I ran away at the time. I was lucky."
"......"
Lee Jui fell silent as she listened to my story.
It was as if every nerve was focused on each of my words.
Focused....
If she's focusing on my voice.
I wanted to make sure this got through.
"The good news is, it didn't seem interested in humans like us."
"...Can you take responsibility for that statement... Employee Park Yeon-jeong?"
Lee Jui's intimidating voice pierced my ears.
It wasn't accusatory.
Just....
Her voice laced with concern, as if emphasizing the weight of my words.
But I answered firmly.
"Yes, I'm certain."
Employee Park Yeon-jeong's gaze held a steely resolve as it met Lee Jui's eyes.
Lee Jui, staring back with her cold eyes at the man filled with unyielding determination.
Closed her eyes tightly.
And turned her head.
"Employee Park Yeon-jeong. I'll... take your words to heart...."
Click-
After hearing my final words, Lee Jui's steps turned back toward the Ghost Story Pawnshop.
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in her stride.
I took in the sight of Lee Jui's receding back.
Thud-
And started walking myself.
I stepped forward in the direction I needed to go, moving steadily ahead.
Steadily....
With heavy footsteps.
Stumble-!
......
The man's footsteps were heavier than ever before.
Really heavy.
*****
When I returned to Seongsu Station Exit 1.
Thankfully, Kim Ha-eun wasn't in sight this time either.
Yeah, that's a relief.
......No.
Actually, it's not.
Relief my ass!
I'd just been hit with a bolt from the blue by that woman Lee Jui—a crimson truth.
How the agency saw me now.
How they classified me.
How they viewed me as a dangerous figure!
I now knew.
-Black Flame Man.
A being with black flames flickering around its head, dressed in a black suit.
'Anyone can see that's me....'
They were calling me a ghost story.
The agency was already treating my existence with the descriptor "Black Flame Man" and assigning it a ghost story rating.
And that rating was a whopping "S-Rank."
It had been granted an S-Rank, reserved only for disaster-level ghost stories whose very existence spelled catastrophe.
[Disaster-Level Ghost Story]
(Provisional)-Black Flame Man Entry-(Temp)
......
All I'd done was play Little Noise a bit to survive.
Yet I'd ended up ranked at the top of the ghost story ratings.
Classified as a Priority 1 Elimination Target.
I'd left an indelible mark on the agency bastards.
Now that the mark was set.
I could already see their sticky handshake requests piling up.
Countless handshake requests = countless employee kill requests.
But.
Honestly....
When Lee Jui mentioned the Black Flame Man.
Part of me wanted to downplay it.
-I met that ghost story, but it was weaker than I thought. No need to worry about it.
-S-Rank? Overkill. It's barely F-Rank worthy.
I really wanted to say something like that.
But....
A lame downplay might just backfire and earn her suspicion, so I held back.
And even if it worked.
Something told me Lee Jui would say.
'Then... let's exterminate it before it grows any bigger.'
So I couldn't risk it.
My only option there was.
To hype it up.
Instead of a flimsy newbie S-Rank ghost story.
I steered it toward "Touch me and you're fucked" vibes.
Implanting the idea that messing with me is 100% a loss!!
Exaggerating that things could spiral uncontrollably the moment someone tried.
And that was.
The best choice I could make in front of that woman Lee Jui.
A gamble.
Purely to protect my existence.
I'd premium-priced myself.
Looking back now, it didn't seem like a bad move.
After all, tough boss mobs require more time and prep than easy ones.
Having warned an executive like Lee Jui about the Black Flame Man.
The agency wouldn't act rashly for a while.
I hoped so, anyway.
Please....
Though unintended, Park Yeon-jeong roughly outlined what he needed to do going forward.
-Don't let ghost stories look down on me.
-Don't kill agency people. But don't let them look down on me either.
-Search for escape routes whenever possible.
If he ran into agency employees during future ghost story captures, he'd drill in the idea that touching him meant doom.
But no killing.
Even a lowly agency employee was human, a "valuable asset" to the agency.
Unnecessary kills would just give them the spark to hunt him down.
'Of course, I never planned to kill anyway.'
From now on, he'd strongly imprint his existence on both ghost stories and humans.
While simultaneously finding a way out of this world.
With that sorted.
It was clear as day.
So now.
'They're telling me to die, huh?'
The current situation felt like.
Walking through thick fog.
One misstep ahead.
And I'd die.
The moment any of those plans faltered even slightly.
Death.
If the ghost stories caught him, he couldn't even imagine the bizarre way he'd die.
Naturally, surviving humans recklessly would turn him into a lifelong lab rat.
Checkmate.
Game point...?
'This can't be right.'
Wandering aimlessly with a pile of worries.
He paused.
A familiar sight caught his eye, and he looked up.
Before he knew it, his feet had brought him to the gate of Soi's house.
"......"
The world was bright.
But why was his future so pitch black?
'Every day is so eventful.'
As despair over tomorrow's reality washed over him.
Gurgle-
......
His stomach clock ruthlessly demanded what it wanted.
......Yeah.
Worrying wouldn't change anything.
The water was already spilled; too late to scoop it back.
Or maybe.
The water in his bucket had spilled long ago.
Regretting the past wouldn't help.
Plus, I'd just fanned the flames myself in front of Lee Jui.
Thud-
My footsteps slowly passed the gate toward the shabby front door.
Click-
And.
As always.
Waiting to greet me at the entrance was.
A girl in a kimono perfectly fitted to her small frame.
She bowed rigidly toward me, a warm smile on her lips.
She had such a beautiful smile.
"Welcome home, Master."
"...Yeah."
At least this world had one place where I could catch my breath.
With Soi welcoming me back as always, happily.
The rest of that day was spent with her.
Sharing a warm meal and light chat—it wasn't a bad day.
"Master, today I will absolutely scrub your back!"
"......"
I smiled fondly at the girl rolling up her short sleeves with firm resolve.
'Her body shrank, but her spirit's the same.'
I barely fended off Soi's intense desire.
Before long, night fell.
Soi burrowed into my arms as usual, pressing tight against my side.
......
Quiet moonlight filtered through the window.
Blue light illuminated us lying in bed.
I finally asked Soi something I'd always wondered but never found the right moment for.
Today, it felt like I could.
"Soi."
"Yes, Master."
"I've been meaning to ask this for a while."
"Yes, Master."
"......Why do you take your clothes off?"
"......"
Squeeze-
Soi burrowed even deeper.
Her skin pressed further into my embrace, and her glossy lips parted.
A faint smile played on them.
"You finally asked."
Had she been waiting?
I'd have felt bad if I hadn't.
...But still.
Did she really need to strip?
Soi's smile faded slowly.
Replaced by....
A soft, fragile child's voice drifting into my ear with the night air.
"My own way of remembering you, I suppose. So I never forget your warmth...."
"......"
I didn't know how to respond to Soi's words.
Nothing came to mind right away.
But.
Squeeze-!
After saying that, Soi hugged me even tighter.
Her heartbeat reached my skin.
Even the faint tremors of her body transmitted through.
Squeeze-
Soi hugged me.
Even tighter.
As if terrified I'd vanish in an instant if she didn't hold on.
Her breath carried her voice toward me.
"Master... please keep that promise, no matter what."
Her trembling gaze met mine, rippling like waves.
Soi's....
Eyes were red-rimmed.
"No matter what happens, please survive. That heart-wrenching pain...."
She wasn't crying like yesterday.
Or weeping sadly.
Soi just.
"I don't think... I can bear it twice."
Seemed to be fighting back tears.
Unaware her voice was already shaking.
She whimpered softly in my arms.
All I could say to such a Soi was.
"...Yeah. I promise."
Just a promise.
An empty promise, words alone.
But I hoped my words would stop her tears. That she wouldn't be sad because of me.
That she wouldn't cry.
That night.
For another reason, sleep wouldn't come easy.