Chapter 37 : Save me!!!!!

After repeatedly pondering, I chose my soulmate.

With a serious expression, I lifted my head and looked at the three of them.

“Alright, I’ve made my decision!”

“Really?”

Each one of them had a look on their face that said, “Of course, you’ll choose me.”

But still, I had to say it.

“I’ll go with Nunu unnie!”

“What?!”

No…

I had an inkling, but I didn’t expect to be abandoned like this. It seems like both Bada and the commander were shocked, their faces crumbling.

Especially the commander, who looked at me with such a sad expression. On the other hand, Nunu unnie, who stood next to me, was smiling gently.

Maybe it was because they were contrasting, but the commander’s face looked even more pitiful.

But, Commander. Even if you look like that, it’s already decided.

I shook my head.

…Of course, if I could, I would want to go with all of them. But if that happened, it would take away all the fear, right? Originally, it’s supposed to be a 2-person team.

It’s such a pity that there’s only one person who can go with me, the fearless and cool one.

“Have you made your decision? Then, the two people in front will go first.”

The staff member who was standing in front of the haunted house guided the commander and Bada inside.

The staff member was wearing a simple zombie costume. Honestly, it looked so cheap, like just a mask.

Seeing that made it seem like it wouldn’t be that scary. I’m worried the building’s exterior looks fine, but inside might be too deflating.

Aren’t Bada and the commander going to break out of there soon?

“Since it’s come to this, let’s quickly break out and come out, right?”

That’s something I would say. Ah, should I not jump around and scream saying I’m scared?

“Hmph, Commander, you should worry. Even though I may look like this, I’ve caught a lot of horror monsters.”

“Hmm, that sounds exciting. Hmmm~ Hmmm~”

I guess humming random songs is a habit for all commanders.

As always, the commander and Bada bickered a bit before going inside.

They looked so close, it was nice to see.

But, you know, the people who enter with the most confidence are usually the most scared, that’s the national rule.

I could already see Bada crying and screaming, and the commander’s legs shaking in fear. A smile naturally appeared on my face.

Poor people.

“Let me see. Okay, the next team can go in.”

“Huh, already?”

It hadn’t been long since Bada and the commander went in, but it’s already their turn?

…Ah, I get it now.

As soon as they went in, they probably got scared and gave up right away. In that case, it makes sense they’re going in so quickly.

See, they’re all cowards. I guess I’ll have to show them what I’m made of.

“Each team has different courses… Ah, this course is quite famous among customers, you’re lucky!”

“…Why is it famous?”

“It’s rumored to be the scariest course among all the ones we’ve experienced.”

Oh, oh no.

The scariest course, huh?

Even for me, that’s a bit…

“Are you okay with that? Ah, if you want, we can change it. It’s not usually allowed, but since it’s not busy now, we can make an exception.”

Wait a minute, did they just say, “If you’re scared, we can change it for you?”

Touching my pride like that. I have no choice but to show them now.

I’m going to easily overcome this famous course and prove it.

“No, it’s fine. Please keep it as it is!”

I nodded vigorously.

How dare they try to make me scared, someone who has watched every horror movie out there?

…Of course, that wasn’t their direct intention, but that’s how it sounded to me, so that’s how it is.

“Alright, you can enter now.”

“Yes.”

The staff paused for a moment, then looked at my face and opened the door.

A strange chill filled the air, and the smell of disinfectant, the kind you’d expect from a hospital, wafted in.

Inside was a dim room with cracks in various places. The ceiling lights emitted a faint glow that barely illuminated the front.

And faintly in front of me, a small clown doll was lying on the floor.

…Should I just give up now and ask to switch to another course?

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Of course!”

No, as a tough guy, once I’ve made a decision, I have to stick with it.

I slammed the door shut and ran inside with my eyes tightly shut.

“Wait a minute, sir, that’s…”

I lightly ignored the staff member’s voice behind me.

They’re probably saying something like, “If you’re worried, we can change it.”

Hmm.

And now, the situation I’m in, where I’ve opened my eyes in an abandoned hospital…

“Huh.

This is strange. No matter how much I look back, I can’t see the exit.

This is really weird. I don’t think I’ve run for that long, but the atmosphere here is completely different from the dull room I saw at the entrance.

Where am I?

“Is anyone there? Unnie? Are you there?”

Is anyone really here?

“Hello?”

No matter how much I call, there’s not even a sound of ants. Instead, my voice echoes through the empty hallway, and it’s even scarier than before.

It’s getting even more frightening.

Even Nunu unnie is nowhere to be seen.
No, but isn’t this supposed to be a two-person team?

Why am I the only one here?

Could it be because I ran in alone?

– Step, step.
– Creak… creak…

With every step I take, the wooden floor creaks and makes an eerie sound.
It really feels like I’m in a completely abandoned house.

But wait, this is an abandoned hospital—who thought it was a good idea to have wooden floors?

I walk and walk, yet all I see around me is a red liquid—whether it’s blood or paint, I can’t tell—smeared all over the old hospital walls.

The rooms that seem to be hospital wards are so dark inside that I can’t even peek in.

Maybe it’s because the fluorescent lights in the hallway are too bright.

In this old, broken-down hospital, the only thing still glowing normally is the fluorescent light, which only adds to the eerie atmosphere.

“Ugh.”

I tried pulling on the doors of the hospital rooms one by one, but they wouldn’t open, as if something was blocking them from the inside.

No matter how hard I pulled, they wouldn’t budge.

Seems like they specially designed them for mercenaries.

Why are they so meticulous in unnecessary areas?

“Sigh.”

Frowning, I stared hard into the hospital room.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I was barely able to make out what was inside.

Scattered across the floor were dark red bandages, stained with handprints, creating a chilling sight.

If this weren’t a haunted house, I would have screamed at the horrifying scene.

“Eek…”

No wonder this is a famous horror attraction.
Even I, who don’t get scared easily, was trembling in fear.

“Ch-cheese crust…”

Was it “Jesus Christ”?

Oh, whatever.

As long as it sounds similar.

At least there’s one good thing—
even though the lights flicker frequently, there’s still some brightness.

– Crash!

Hiccup!

“…Guess not.”

Just as I thought I could relax, the bright fluorescent light shattered in an instant.

At the same time, a bright red emergency light flickered on, turning what I thought was a “safe” hallway into something utterly terrifying.

– Creak, creak…

I was so caught off guard that I just stood there, my mouth opening and closing.
And then, from up ahead, I heard it.

A creaking sound.

The sound of wooden floors straining under the weight of a person.

In other words, someone was there.

Could it be Nunu unnie?

Did she just arrive?

“…Unnie?”

“…”

– Creak… creak… creak…!

It was too dark to see who was there,
and I didn’t hear a response.But the creaking sounds were getting faster, so I assumed it was Nunu unnie.

She must be hurrying over because she thinks I’m scared.

Unnie really is kind.

Not that I was scared or anything—
but since we’re supposed to be in a team,
we should stick together, right?

I was just lonely.

“Unnie! I was waiting for you!”

I opened my arms wide, ready for her to pull me into a hug.

It’s definitely not because I’m scared.

I’m just… cold.

Yeah, that’s it.

Now, hurry and hug me!

– Creak… creak…

“Huh?”

As the creaking sound got closer, I suddenly noticed something odd.

For some reason, this hospital has wooden floors.

And it seems like there’s a slight gap beneath them, because no matter how carefully I step, my footsteps always make a sound.

…But why don’t I hear any footsteps from Nunu unnie?

– Creak…

I figured it out right away.

– Creak…

The creaking sound reached right in front of me.

It arrived at the spot where I was standing.

But when I looked ahead—

There was no one there.

“…Huh?”

– Creeeak…

I stood frozen in confusion, when suddenly, another creaking sound rang out.

But this time, it wasn’t from the floor.

It came from a hospital room door next to me—slowly creaking open.

“H-hiii… hiiiik…”

Terrified, I turned my trembling body toward the opening door…

And there, inside—

Was the clown doll I had seen at the haunted house entrance.

Not a small doll.

A massive doll—far bigger than me—

With an unnaturally wide grin stretched across its face.

Standing right there.

“Aaaaahhh!!!”

After Maru screamed in terror and ran away—

“Huh? I just came to play together… Oh, right.”

The clown doll, now left alone, slowly removed its mask.

Beneath it, golden, majestic fur and a slightly flustered expression were revealed.

“I forgot to take off the mask…”

Luka, who had been riding on a lion’s back to make up for his short height, scratched his mane as he looked in the direction Maru had fled.