Ch.61Someone’s Memory (I)+

# 61. Someone’s Memory (I)+

[JoanOfArcIsASaint has invited PhysicalTherapist.]

[Do you accept the invitation?]

I’m confused.

And scared.

In a situation where guild members have been disappearing one by one, starting with the guild leader, I’m reminded of what YeBeobNoJeong, who recently vanished, had said.

[WaterKnowsTheAnswer: PT!]

[WaterKnowsTheAnswer: PT?]

What should I do? What am I supposed to do?

[Do you accept the invitation?]

Why is this popping up again when I haven’t even decided?

[StubbornBackDoor: Oh!]

[StubbornBackDoor: PT is sleeping!]

No. I’m not sleeping.

Don’t you guys see this?

Right. Let me try talking to the guild members first. They might tell me something.

[Do you accept the invitation?]

“No, hey!”

When I tried to chat, it completely covered my screen. Thinking it might be a coincidence, I tried to press Enter again, but the message window covered everything once more.

[Do you accept the invitation?]

This wasn’t just a virus on my computer or some glitch in my game.

It was just a simple message window appearing on its own, but the cause was unknown and the situation itself was bizarre.

I was scared.

And simultaneously angry.

“Hey… Didn’t your mother teach you not to follow strangers offering candy?”

Though I had no evidence, this was probably the cause of the disappearances.

I don’t know how this could lead to people going missing, but I had a feeling that the moment I accepted, something would happen.

What made me angrier was that someone was doing this using the guild leader’s nickname. The guild leader wasn’t the type to play such pranks.

“This is so annoying, seriously.”

I decided to say goodbye in the group chat and just turn off the game.

[Do you accept the invitation?]

But the message appeared without fail.

[Do you accept the invitation?]

“I won’t! I said I won’t!”

[Do you accept the invitation?]

“I said I’m not accepting!”

[Do you accept the invitation?]

Since this malicious message wouldn’t even let me close the game, I decided to shut down the computer entirely.

But then.

[Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?]

“…………”

I witnessed a horrific scene right before my eyes: a black background, as if the screen had gone into power-saving mode, was being filled with invitation messages.

In real-time.

As if.

It would persistently continue until I said the word “accept.”

I turned my eyes away from the screen completely.

“If I don’t look, if I ignore it, it’ll stop.”

Oh right.

I should tell WaterKnows and BackDoor about this too.

My fingers trembled as I tried to unlock my phone, but from their perspective, I’d left without saying anything, so I needed to explain the situation…

[Do you accept the invitation?]

“…………”

Thud-

I accidentally dropped my phone on my foot, but I didn’t have time to feel the pain.

[Do you accept the invitation?]

My work computer too.

[Do you accept the invitation?]

My tablet too.

[Do you accept the invitation?]

Even the TV.

Now invitation messages were appearing one by one on the screens of devices that weren’t even turned on. Far from disappearing, the message windows kept stacking up whenever I looked at them, urging me to “answer.”

There was probably only one answer the message wanted.

“Ha….”

I’ve never watched horror movies or been to a haunted house, but here I am experiencing something like this in real life.

I ignored all the screens and dove onto my bed. I pulled the covers over my head and squeezed my eyes shut.

‘I won’t. I won’t. Absolutely not. Ignore it. Just ignore it.’

I’ll just sleep and wake up, and everything will be back to normal.

Sorry to WaterKnows and BackDoor, but it’s better to take another break from the game.

So let’s sleep first. I’ll think about it after I wake up.

No, let’s not think about it at all.

If I breathe slowly and deeply to calm my startled heart, gradually release the tension in my body, and clear my mind of stray thoughts—

[Do you accept the invitation?]

“KYAAAAH!”

Seeing things when my eyes are closed is crossing the line!

This is driving me crazy!

The guild leader and other members must have faced this too and said “accept,” right? And then they disappeared?

I don’t know how they went missing, but just looking at what’s happening now, we’re already past the point where this can be explained logically or scientifically, right?

“Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.”

Let’s try to erase it by recalling happy moments. It can’t control what I’m thinking, right?

– Soyu! Congratulations on passing!

– But when will you accept the invitation?

“AAAAH!”

– Ms. Soyu, congratulations on reaching over 700,000 subscribers!

– We have some content we’re working on.

– Could we know when you’ll accept our invitation?

“YAAAH!!! WHO ARE YOU?!!!”

Unable to fall asleep, I kicked off the covers and got out of bed.

“…Ah.”

As soon as I stepped out of my room, I covered my mouth and collapsed on the spot.

[Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?][Do you accept the invitation?]

My entire house was filled with messages.

I could see them with my eyes closed and with my eyes open. The more I tried not to think about it, the more it appeared. I couldn’t tell if the problem was with my eyesight or my brain anymore.

The situation itself was so terrifying that I wanted to escape.

I already knew the answer.

My determination to thoroughly ignore it was rapidly fading.

“If I accept… that’s all I need to do! So get rid of these damn messages already!!!”

**

[You have glimpsed I’s memory.]

“…”

“…”

No one said a word.

It was shocking to realize that the “acceptance” procedure, which we had taken for granted until now, was actually like this.

It was shocking to see a woman curled up in a fetal position, covering her eyes and ears, muttering something incessantly in a terrified voice.

It was shocking to finally realize, after summoning the fourth person, that we had forcibly brought someone who didn’t want to come.

I had decided to be selfish. I had resolved to endure it many times.

But when faced with this situation, my mind went completely blank, not knowing what to say.

*Gulp*

‘I still need to step forward.’

I wiped my sweaty hands on my pants and slowly approached the crouching woman. She flinched at the sound of my footsteps, but gradually raised her head as the distance closed.

Silver hair that looked like it had never experienced a single problem, silver-white eyes that were bloodshot and slightly swollen but still held a mysterious beauty.

This mysterious silver beauty with delicate features on a small face was looking up at me from her crouched position.

“PT.”

“…!”

“I’m sorry our first meeting is like this.”

I knelt in front of her to match her eye level as much as possible and to offer my apology.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance, couldn’t contact you later, and am now selfishly ruining your life.”

“You….”

“Physical Therapist. PT. I am your guild leader.”

Physical Therapist’s face slowly contorted. The feeling was like watching a beautiful, intricate doll breaking, and knowing it was because of me made my heart ache.

“You… and one, two, three. Haha. I see.”

Physical Therapist tried to get up but grabbed my collar instead.

“PT!”

It feels like déjà vu, but I gestured to stop the guild members who were approaching in alarm after seeing me grabbed by the collar.

Physical Therapist briefly glanced at the guild members behind me before speaking.

“Those weird messages that kept appearing. Was that you?”

“No.”

“Right? That wouldn’t be possible. But why am I here in this unknown place instead of my home? Was that you too?”

“I was also brought here without knowing why, and I still don’t understand how it works, but I did want to bring you here, PT.”

Physical Therapist bit her lip.

“If I’m not mistaken, regardless of who’s behind it or how this strange phenomenon works… what matters is that I’m here because you wanted me to be. I’m not curious about the mechanics and don’t want to know, but there’s someone who wants this, and if you accept, you get dragged here. Just like those three. And me too. Right?”

I nodded.

*SLAP!*

My face immediately burned.