Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: LIVE_404_NOT_FOUND
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Pitch-black darkness blanketed the corridor thickly.
A space already described countless times.
Now so familiar that no more description is needed.
‘Noise, that guy….’
Somehow the atmosphere of his words felt different.
It was like he’d casually tossed out something hugely important as trivial chit-chat.
‘What did he say earlier?’
-
Please attract new customers.
Customer acquisition?
…Why do I already feel uneasy?
If it’s ghost story capture, then it’s capture. But that sudden phrase “new customer acquisition” kept circling my ears, stirring a nagging dread.
A sticky, lingering word.
Customer acquisition….
‘Trying to throw me into some weird ghost story again….’
It’s the last Friday of the week—can’t I take it easy for once?
Looking back now.
I should’ve caught on when he told me to bring that Toy Ghost Story with the quill pen….
Clueless idiot = Park Yeon-jeong.
I regretted accepting it so eagerly.
I prayed the ghost story I was entering this time wasn’t A-rank. Or worse….
S-rank?
….
No way it’s S-rank.
Even the A-rank “Smiling Mask” barely fell with Noise’s power.
Unless Noise hated my guts, it couldn’t be S-rank.
If he had any conscience….
No—do ghost stories even have consciences?
He knew full well that, excluding the kid “I Hate the Dark,” I’d faced no other A-ranks.
I wanted to believe he wouldn’t suddenly shove me into an S-rank deathtrap.
‘…Right? Noise?’
Thud-
The man’s heavy footsteps, heavy with unease, pressed forward.
Flash-
A blinding beam sliced through my vision, lighting up the surroundings. I realized we’d arrived at the ghost story for capture.
The first thing to catch my eye.
Lighting?
Not ordinary lighting.
Professional gear you’d see on a film set, followed by a flood of broadcasting equipment.
Audio equipment.
Video equipment.
Mixers.
Cameras.
.
.
.
And so on.
All top-tier professional stuff.
Countless camera models especially grabbed my attention.
An absurd number of cameras.
For a split second, I wondered if Noise had sent me to the wrong station.
【Oh! Who’s this!】
A clear, delicate voice—barely hiding its childish excitement—pierced my ears.
【The famous big bro’s gracing our channel! What an honor!】
A kid with a small frame, like Soi back when she was shrunk, rushed right up to me.
Grab-!
He seized my wrist and dragged me off somewhere.
The kid’s look: just glowing yellow eyes slashing through the black hood’s shadows.
My first thought on seeing him.
Ghost story.
This kid… no, this guy’s a ghost story.
He kept yapping nonstop while hauling me along.
【Don’t tense up so much. Big bro, just follow my lead.】
【Alright, broadcast starting now!】
Broadcast?
The word “broadcast” hit my brain.
- The broadcast has begun.
The kid plopped me dead center in a chair, cameras locked right on me.
【Cue!!】
He hollered “Cue!” in a voice brimming with mischief.
Swish-!
!
Every camera snapped to me in unison.
He grabbed one casually and kept hosting.
【Massacre Squad, thanks for surviving to watch my stream today!】
Broadcast… no, live stream?
I stared at the kid, eyes wide with disbelief.
He rattled off his script like a pro.
【Today’s stream has a massive guest!】
【Who is it? Who?!】
【Guess right, win a huge gift!】
My eyes flicked to the screen straight ahead from my chair.
Anonymous chats flooded it furiously.
ㄴ. For real? Who?
ㄴ. You buying that?
ㄴ. Hint plz lol
ㄴ. Big drop incoming?!
ㄴ. Show the pretty veiled eye girl from last time.
ㄴ. …No way Kim Sol.
(Temporarily blocked.)
Straight-up the live stream culture I knew.
On the feed, a man with black flames crowning his head filled the screen.
Black flames?
Familiar….
Ah, who…?
….
….
….
!!
‘It’s me!’
My face—ghost story mask and all—was broadcasting live.
Disaster.
Way too exposed.
The Ghost Story Archive has tons of live stream-style ghost stories.
Most top out at D-rank.
GRA figures they’re low-threat, so they leave ’em be.
Unlike other ghost stories.
Their gimmick?
Zero barriers to viewing.
All accessible to normies.
This stream right now.
Ordinary folks can tune in.
Meaning top accessibility.
Which means GRA agents—and ghost stories—are probably watching too.
No—definitely are.
‘Right out the gate, seriously!’
I shot up from my seat.
【Whoa, big bro’s impatient. No rush—I’ve got it all set. Relax.】
Setup or not, I can’t be on this feed.
Can’t provoke GRA. Ever!
But.
The clueless ghost kid picked a comment from the flood.
<Sawon0231>
ㄴ. Black… Flame Man?
【Yes! ‘Sawon0231’ nailed it! As promised… a slot on my stream as your prize!】
Snap-!
He flicked his fingers mid-host.
“…Huh? W-what’s this?”
A sharply dressed man popped into the set.
Obvious at a glance.
GRA agent.
‘Streaming on company time?!’
Cameras ditched me for him.
Our eyes met.
The rigid agent muttered low.
“…The real… ‘Black Flame’ gho—story…?”
Swell-
!
Before he finished, his face ballooned.
Pop-!
….
Exploded.
Like a balloon.
Onstream, party confetti burst everywhere—fun edit for viewers.
The guy who just arrived? Gone in a flash.
Kid hosted on like nothing happened.
【Just like ‘Sawon0231’ said, ‘Black Flame Man’ is our special guest today!】
【Can I hop on the ‘Black Flame Man’ hype train too?!】
ㄴ. Noob alert?
ㄴ. Real-deal Black Flame Man?
ㄴ. Who’s that? Big name?
ㄴ. Flow’s fire.
ㄴ. Another gimmick troll smh.
Chats exploded about me.
Kid beamed, loving the vibe.
But.
I couldn’t join in.
Simple reason.
Unpleasant heat prickling my skin.
Stench burned my nose—I grimaced.
Someone just died here.
Feed played it cute with edits, but a man died right in front of me.
Confetti flew onscreen, all jolly….
Reality? Different.
Instant. No resistance. Head gone.
One finger snap.
Blood and chunks splattered the set—walls, floor—still oozing down.
…D-rank.
Most live stream ghost stories are D-rank, right?
‘…Shit.’
Traits of those streams: cute looks to hook viewers, mostly mental harm over physical.
But.
Like any scene, fame matters.
Ghost stream world has its stars.
And I’d landed in one’s spotlight.
‘Why him—404!’
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/Ghost Story Log
[LIVE_404_NOT_FOUND]
:ID code Cd-A-404
Broadcast ON – 404_LIVE started.
==========
Why him!
Of all the damn ones!
‘Noise, you bastard!’
Thud-!
Ghost kid—no, 404—slammed the table, voice electric.
【Alright, big bro! Introduce yourself!】
Cameras swung back to me.
“…….”
A-rank ghost story.
Smiling Mask tier.
Mouth frozen.
That easy head-pop still fresh.
【…Big bro?】
404’s yellow eyes fixed on me.
Focus.
No overthinking.
Can’t tip him off.
Fear of death shows?
You die.
Next balloon’s you.
Smile.
Fake it like always.
Lips curved falsely. Stay cool.
“…Not used to streams. Kinda tense.”
【No sweat! Chill—like it’s your living room~】
Yeah, easy for you.
Guts churning.
But the surge passed—tension eased a bit.
Eyes checked my black-flame feed self.
Silver lining.
‘At least not my real face.’
Smooth words flowed.
“Hello, viewers.”
No quiver. Eyes on feed. Kept talking.
Key point.
Ghost story turf or not.
‘It’s a live stream.’
No bland intro.
That’s employee’s fate for me.
“Some folks call me ‘Black Flame Man.’ Don’t mind the buzz. Keep it casual with me.”
【Smooth operator! Hobbies? Skills?】
Boring won’t cut it.
Needs to hook 404.
“Not really a skill… I handle sales now.”
【Ooh, sales! What kinda goods?】
Perfect answer.
Reel him in.
“Ghost stories.”
【!!】
Said it.
Not panic-spit.
Warning to GRA and ghosts watching.
Crisis breeds chance.
Frame my past moves legit for GRA eyes.
Burn in: humans bore me.
‘Buy that.’
Next: war cry to lurking ghosts.
You’re targets too.
No Noise consult…
Tough luck.
‘Punish me later.’
Only way out alive.
Rash moves mid-stream? Death.
404 clocked the bomb.
【Uh—stream lagging. Quick break.】
【Back in a sec—!】
Feed cut to text.
- Broadcast ended.