Chapter 3

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 3

Chapter Title: Second Attempt

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Wake up.

'Piss off. Who the hell are you to give me orders?'

Wake up.

'I'm already pissed from dying, so let's just make this easy. I don't know if you're a ghost or what, but you're clearly not friendly.'

Last chance. Wake up.

'Fuck that. I'll get up special if you kneel and kowtow.'

…………

I had no idea who was talking to me.

My mind replayed the vivid image of my decapitated body collapsing in real time.

Don't strange tales usually give you all the rules?

Fuck, why'd mine have to be such a mess? This is total bullshit.

'Whoever's talking after I die must be in league with the bastards who sent me here. What makes you think I'd turn my head? If I die again, is it permadeath or what?'

For that reason, I kept my eyes shut and let my consciousness drift.

This sensation of my soul, which had been 'one' since birth, gradually splitting apart.

Ah, finally dying for real.

I never got to properly repay my parents. If there's a god out there, I hope they trip over a gold bar on the street. No, for realism, maybe a lottery ticket?

Anyway, take good care of things.

Lee Ji-han, age 23, is off to die~!

Unlike the White Room that force-fed me respawns all the way to the bitter end, this place apparently couldn't stop 'death' itself.

Just as I instinctively took that final step toward death.

Let's talk first.

You might want something from me too, right?

Yeah?

The initiative shifted to me.

It was half a shot in the dark, but it actually worked?

Ssss…!

As my will returned, my scattered soul condensed back into one.

Only then did the form of the being speaking to me reveal itself.

'A dress with black and white intricately intertwined, ominous red pupils... Definitely not human.'

The eyes behind the chair she sat in.

Human in form, but with inhuman actions and abilities.

And on top of that.

Disgusting.

Utterly revolting.

Even if it had power, I didn't expect it to act so arrogantly.

Treating humans as equals? No such personality here.

Two possibilities.

Either an Oscar-worthy actor putting on a performance from the start, or a freak abomination with that tone baked in.

Feeling disgust, I spat out my words boldly.

"If it bothers you, just let me die."

Are you speaking to me now?

"Yeah, you freak. I was already pissed getting kidnapped mid-ranked game. Now I can't even die on my terms? Wow, freaks don't even have freak rights, huh, you fuck."

No, wait, um...

"Seeing humans as prey while having a human-shaped body is contradictory~! So, does that mean you're prey for other freaks too? What an ironic bitch."

You're not afraid of me? Any normal human would have gone mad by now.

Afraid?

Scared?

Maybe from dying twice, or maybe I was just gutsy to begin with.

'Not really scared.'

'Her appearance is kinda cute, actually. Though inside, it's probably writhing tentacles or something.'

Like, for example, fish and chips.

You think it's tonkatsu from the outside and dig in, but one bite reveals it's fish cutlet, and suddenly it tastes like crap.

"What a fish cutlet bitch."

???????????

"If you're a freak, act like one and feed on emotions. Why kidnap innocent humans and make a fuss? Fuss? Do you freaks not even have basic morals?"

??????????

"Even without parents, that's no excuse. Install some basic common sense. No friends with a shell like that? Great exterior, fish cutlet inside."

??????????

Whoa, that felt good.

Really fucking refreshing.

A machine-gun rant that vented half the frustration built up over three years.

The freak must have never heard shit like this before.

Stunned like it'd been tased, it blanked out for a while.

Kuhk! You, I didn't kidnap you! To snatch a human with no connections, it'd have to be at least a Rank 1 or 2...

"Shut your trap? What makes you think you can whine like that?"

I didn't do anything wrong! I just approached because I sensed a massive soul wandering in my investment spot!

"Oh? Then joint liability it is."

W-what?

"No, karma might be better. For every human you've eaten, you give birth to... Wait, wrong genre. Anyway, you die, we're square?"

………I don't like you anymore.

"Then shut up and fuck off, you fish cutlet bitch."

…………

Despite the insults, the freak merely narrowed its eyes.

There was still room for 'talk'.

Unable to move freely anyway, I stopped speaking.

Let's make a deal.

I'll give you the 'experience' of a story in exchange.

I'll grant you 'one' thing you desire, anything at all.

"Send me home."

T-that... exceeds what I can do.

No other wishes?

For example, gaining the power of monstrous strength that defies gods, or wise intellect...?

"No deal with a fish cutlet bitch like you."

What?

"Considering the vibe, you freaks can only gain benefits through 'fair trades,' right? So no need to fear you specifically."

…I really hate sharp brats like you.

Go down now.

The freak teared up at the corners of its eyes.

Then, with a wave of its hand, it sent me from the place.

My mind blanked out for a moment. When I opened my eyes again.

I'd been dropped into a place far more horrific than hell.

Where I'd just died.

My fresh corpse lay sprawled.

In the spot where it happened mere minutes ago.

"Urp, uweeek...!!!!!!!!"

Revulsion sank into my soul.

From gastric juices to bone marrow, everything poured out.

I had to cut it off right now.

Is this body mine? Or someone else's?

I could claim my soul as 'me,' but was this body the same?

Now even my sense of self was in chaos.

Yet what pulled me back to reason was that shadow.

'Monster, where's that monster!?'

Awakened by death perhaps, my instincts—sharper now—scanned for nearby freaks.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Only the sound of a wristwatch moving filled the surroundings.

No door-busting clamor.

No sinister sneer from before death.

Nothing. The [Lodge Room] had fallen silent.

Familiar notifications were popping up quietly there.

Along with guesses left on my pre-written intro post.

How do I even explain this?

Died and came back in another body? Or fell here after 3 years kidnapped?

No easy answer, so I just made a new post.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Once the mod gave the okay, questions poured in from all the gallery trolls.

From trivial ones like hobbies.

To serious ones like which strange tale.

Even panty experts living up to their names.

To them, my ability was just 'normal.'

I had no pride in my ability.

But considering they treated 'revival' as normal, maybe there was someone here who could help me escape.

But that was just delusion.

The veteran escapist continued explaining.

Members of the [Strange Tale Gallery] get exactly 'one' post chance upon successful escape.

In nearly 100 years, only 3 such posts.

In other words, knowing that meant trapped over 100 years.

Ah, what bullshit.

Why'd they have to kidnap me to this shithole...!

With a sigh, I glared at the desolate outside.

"Ah, this is fucked... In games, reset should restore objects, right? That's the rule."

The door remained busted as is.

[P.M 7:55]

Dunno if shifts share time, but reset means no exploits allowed.

"………"

The sensation of my throat being torn out lingered vividly.

Terror soaked my body in cold sweat; utter chaos urging me to bolt outside.

Yet one reason I couldn't flee.

[Do not judge the exit by common sense.]

[It is never in a form matching 'human' logic.]

[Doubt and discern everything.]

Words left by the three sole escapees.

Thus, escaping via 'front door' was likely a trap.

So I doubted everything.

'At least stab the back of whoever dragged me here.'

With twisted resolve, the alert blared.

Ding—— Ding—— Ding——

And so, the time for the second patrol arrived.