Midnight Plastic Surgery Clinic - "For You, Whom God Left Unfinished" (2)
"Don't worry. Ghost stories don't attack allies."
At my assurance, Serria's expression softened. She let out a relieved breath, patting her chest, and nodded.
"Got it. I trust you."
"A wise judgment."
"But... is there no way out? With the entrance changed like this, we're trapped just like the hunters would be."
She was right. A sealed ward blocked by white walls on all sides. Unless I made an exit, they were just as trapped as anyone.
Hey boss, any way to grant permissions or something?
I couldn't keep opening doors for them every time. The succubi needed to come and go freely for the dungeon to run properly.
Can't you let monsters come and go freely without me making doors every time?
Simple. Just leave the door open permanently.
Leave it open all the time? Won't hunters come in too?
Don't worry. Uninvited guests can't pass through that door.
It's another 'rule' of this space.
'Oh, convenient.'
Like a security gate. I nodded and beckoned Serria and the succubi.
"Follow me. I'll make an entrance and exit."
I led them down the hallway. The wheelchair wheels scraped with a creak, creeeak, echoing eerily.
That's when it happened.
"Oh, Dr. Han, you're here."
A nurse monster approached from the opposite direction, chart in hand, greeting me.
"You've arrived, Doctor. I've missed you."
"......"
Her voice was chillingly sweet and gentle, like a kind woman's.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine as I forced a smile.
"Ah, yeah... sure."
"Hehe, go ahead and check on things."
The nurse bowed politely and passed by.
The succubi trailing behind yelped "Eek!" and clung to each other, trembling.
Who wouldn't? Inside, I was screaming and tap-dancing in panic.
Ghost stories talk to you?!
I thought they were just grotesque shapes, but they could communicate? My heart pounded like it might burst.
Boss, can you talk to ghost stories?
If conditions are met, you can hear the ghost story's voice and converse.
It's possible because you hold the 'owner' authority here.
'......'
I made a pouty face.
That's not happy news at all.
Small talk with these horrors from now on? Their looks already made me nauseous, and now direct chats? This was bullshit.
No such thing as an extreme job, for real.
I swallowed my fear and entered the room at the end of the hall, marked 'Nurses' Station.' A relatively normal space with a desk and medicine cabinet. Pointing at one wall, I muttered low.
"Create."
Hummm— The space warped, and a steel door appeared on the blank wall.
Serria's eyes widened at the sight.
"Huh? A door..."
"This leads outside."
I added an expert explanation.
"I'll keep it open permanently, so Princess and the succubi can use it freely anytime. Unauthorized beings can't pass, so no security worries."
Then, Hob Goblin, listening nearby, pouted and yelled.
"Boss! Why no fancy door for my dungeon? Discrimination!"
Oh, right. I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Back then, I was an apprentice merchant with no permissions."
"What? Apprentice?"
"Now I'm full merchant, unlocked features."
"Grr... So unfair."
Hob Goblin grumbled, but I brushed it off. Water under the bridge.
"...Impressive stuff, this ghost story business," Serria said, face flushed with excitement.
"Glad you like it."
"Like? It's an impregnable fortress."
Despair faded from her eyes, replaced by hope.
As the mood warmed, one succubus behind raised a tentative hand.
"Um, Princess."
"What?"
"I had a good idea..."
The succubus glanced around nervously before suggesting.
"If ghost stories don't attack us, why not team up with them against hunters?"
"Team up?"
"Yeah. We support from behind with magic."
Serria's eyes lit up. She rested her chin, pondered, then smiled seductively.
"Makes sense."
"Right?"
"Especially mixing our specialties—'charm' or 'illusion'—doubles the effect."
"...!"
Hearing that, chills ran down my spine.
Ghost story and monster collab?
This combo is insane.
One ghost story alone shattered hunters' minds with terror. Add succubi mental attacks?
Illusions make them see phantoms, lose sanity; charm paralyzes reason...
No calm judgment for rules. Ghost story counters need composure, but succubi block that.
This bumps a D-rank to C, or higher?
I could hear the difficulty skyrocketing to hell mode.
Boss, is this okay?
But the reply was flat.
Doesn't matter. Collaborating with ghost stories is fair game.
How buyers use the product is their call. You just sell.
'......'
Fair point. Merchants just sell.
I might've birthed history's dirtiest, sneakiest dungeon.
After that, I headed with the group to the ghost story's core—the 'doctor.'
Cold sweat never stopped flowing down the hallway.
"Oh, Dr. Han. Eaten yet?"
"Doctor, you look extra handsome today. Great complexion."
Every passing nurse greeted me warmly, giant syringes in hand, smashed faces grinning.
"Ah, yeah... nice to see you."
I nodded stiffly like a wooden doll, replying awkwardly.
Save me...
Stop talking. Scary enough for a heart attack.
After twists and turns, we reached the deepest hall, marked 'Operating Room.' The sensor triggered; the door slid open smoothly.
Hiss— Disinfectant stench hit.
Cold room with surgical table and gleaming medical gear. Someone stood in the center.
"......"
I doubted my eyes. Unlike previous monsters.
Neat side-part, silver glasses. Spotless white coat on a middle-aged man. Looked like a kindly professor from a university hospital. No grotesqueness, no horror. Perfectly normal human.
"Ghost story... right?"
I muttered unwittingly. The man looked up from his chart and smiled brightly at me.
"Dr. Han, you've arrived."
Even his voice was soothing.
"I've been waiting."
"...You're in charge here?"
"In charge? I'm just a helper finding patients' beauty."
He adjusted his glasses with a friendly smile. Eyes crinkling like the ideal 'doctor.'
"Please wait a moment. I'll escort you once ready."
He turned and walked into the inner director's office. Click-clack. Shoes faded; door shut.
"......"
We stared blankly at the closed door.
Serria broke the silence, voice trembling.
"That man just now... not human, right?"
"Not human. Ghost story."
I answered firmly.
"If human, hallway nurses would've torn him apart. They treat him as doctor, so he's part of it."
Still, to confirm.
Boss, that's a real ghost story, right?
Too normal, uncanny. The hideous nurses creeped less than this guy.
Ghost stories take many forms.
That's a crystallization of human 'fiction' and 'delusions.'
Fiction?
Wears a mask of kindly doctor, but inside lurks madness to reshape humans to his aesthetic.
Resentments of doctors mad from perfecting beauty, or those who died from failed surgeries. Twisted desires formed that shell.
Chills hit my spine. Angelic doctor outside, mad scientist inside.
Ghost stories are complicated.
Rumors, fears, grudges of the dead. Born different from monsters.
Used to be.
Voice's tone deepened meaningfully.
Now the 'trigger's pulled.'
Suppressed fears will burst like a dam.
'......'
Excited for the surge in ghost story outbreaks?
Trigger? Outbreaks? Questions piled, but I stayed silent.
The doctor emerged from the office.
"Here."
He handed a pristine notebook. Spotless cover.
"What's this?"
"Rulebook. My 'weakness' too."
He adjusted glasses.
"All procedures and counters listed. For you, Dr. Han."
"Uh... got it."
I took it dazedly. Ghost story handing over its weakness? Like a game boss giving a strategy guide.
Intelligence like a real person.
Emboldened, I got to the point.
"Doctor, one request."
"Yes?"
"New intruders in a few days. Stop them."
His eyes flashed behind glasses.
"New specimens... no, patients coming."
...Specimens? Hearing clear.
"...Yeah, patients, sure."
"No worries. Once in, all my patients."
He curled his lips, clenching gloved fist.
"Doctors don't refuse patients. Duty to guide to true 'beauty.'"
"Path of beauty..."
"Yes. Humans born imperfect. Asymmetrical features, protruding cheekbones, dull skin... sins."
Voice rose. Calm eyes flickered with eerie zeal.
"I'll carve, shave, reassemble to perfect symmetry. Golden ratio body! True salvation, no?"
"......"
"Ahh, scalpel hand trembles already. How beautifully will their bones screech this time..."
He reached into air ecstatically, mimicking surgery.
...Psycho.
No reasoning. Trapped in his mad world.
Serria tugged my sleeve, whispering.
"...Totally insane."
Agreed, customer.
Then, a forgotten idea surfaced. Succubus collab plan. Better set it up solid.
"Oh, Doctor. One more thing."
"What?"
I pointed at awkward succubi.
"Solo surgeries overwhelming? Hire these as nurses... aides?"
"Aides?"
He eyed them puzzled. Succubi paled, shaking heads, but I pressed.
"Experts in illusion and charm. Make patients forget pain, dream happily. Like... anesthesia specialists?"
"Anesthesia..."
"Better than panicked thrashing. Docile under haze, higher satisfaction."
He stroked chin, pondering. Succubi shot desperate 'refuse!' glares.
But.
"Valid point."
He nodded.
"No prior plans, but interns accepted."
"...Eek!"
"Teaching true medicine is senior duty."
He smiled kindly, extending hand.
"Welcome. OR always open. Path of learning long and arduous—steel yourselves."
"N-nooo..."
Succubi drained of color. No one wants those mad eyes willingly.
They pleaded with me. I averted gaze.
They clung to last hope, Serria.
"P-Princess..."
"Save us. Send us there?"
"Scary, Princess!"
Serria gently gripped trembling shoulders.
"Girls."
"Yes?"
"Don't fear. Opportunity."
She met each eye warmly, encouraging.
"Learn skills, grow stronger. Must for defending dungeon."
"But..."
"Team up to survive. Right?"
Her sincere words shook them. Scary, but can't defy owner. They nodded tearfully.
"...Okay, Princess."
"If you say so..."
"Now, interns? Time's short."
Doctor clapped.
"Sterilize tools first. Follow."
"O-okay..."
Succubi trudged after like lambs to slaughter.
Hiss— Auto-door closed smoothly, mercilessly.
...Hang in there, interns.
Hunters will taste hell thanks to you.