episode_0022

“xhdwp 불rk ghkswk, akrsms, etc….”

While I was momentarily lost in thought, the film-like figure of the security guard, who had been flipping over, completely lost its shape. Standing stiffly with arms made of film stretched out like noodles, it was literally a monster.

Encountering such a being was not new.

Since the Red Devil Catastrophe, the town had seen inexplicable things wandering around from time to time. However, these beings pretending to be human—no, these beings were a first.

“Ugh….”

“Bad people.”

“Yeah, ignorant… seems like bad people.”

It wasn’t just about killing people.

I’m not one to believe in physiognomy, but for some reason, this was unsettling to look at. It was like a malfunctioning TV screen filled with noise. With incomprehensible voices and constantly shifting film faces, there was no cheap horror movie quite like it.

“ghkswk, qudtlffh, dhfarudi….”

“Ah, ah!? You, you get out of here, you damn bastard!!”

“wkqdkTe─ dkr!?”

“Ahhhh!?”

“…Regardless of anything else, especially walking around in hooded attire is annoying. Really doesn’t sit well with me.”

The film-like figure, brimming with injustice, fell to the ground without finishing its metaphorical tale. The sensation, akin to a human skull, was uncomfortably eerie.

These beings constantly mimicking others’ fashion choices were something Jin didn’t appreciate.

I may have killed people before, but it was always in self-defense. There’s a vast difference between that and being a lunatic who kills indiscriminately like these guys. A real difference.

“wmddnjs, wmddnjsdl… vlfd.”

“Cough!?”

“Cough, ugh, ack…!?”

“Ack, ugh……!?!?”

“What are you doing now… huh?”

“Body, body, ack… kkaeu, euk, kahak…!”

It was right after the film-like figure wildly reached out its arms.

The security guards with pierced chests rose one by one from their positions. Each twisted their bodies grotesquely, screaming as they were entangled by the grayish film protruding from their bodies.

It felt like a scene from a sci-fi movie my aunt dragged me to see when I was in elementary school.

Was the title really just “Alien”? Whatever it was, my aunt loved movies where lots of people died. I never expected to reminisce about that memory in this way.

“Ouch!?”

“Why did you let go and go alone.”

“Well… I… thought Jin might be in danger, so I wanted to take care of it first.”

“Don’t do that next time. I’ll be mad.”

“I’ll try.”

Although we said that, the situation was quite desperate.

If there had been just one film-like figure, I might have been able to briefly abandon Jin and take it down. But now they numbered seven, and my left hand was held by Jin, making it impossible to run like before. The situation was not good at all.

“Jin, can you run?”

“I’ve always been good at running.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Indeed, our Jin was a midfielder aspirant who truly loved soccer.

Even with seven opposing team film-like figures blocking the way, she seemed overflowing with confidence to break through. If only I could borrow some of that courage, it would have been great, but it was regrettable.

“Ah… what the heck is this… Hey, squinty eyes! You kicked and made me fall too!!”

“….”

“Are you ignoring me right now? Huh!?”

Moreover, our team was already on the verge of internal division.

If I keep talking like this, Jin will get really angry. So, I better stay quiet. Especially in this situation, I have no intention of stopping.

“Hehe….”

“…Ona? Why are you acting like that?”

“Hehe… hehehe… hehe….”

“Ahh! Why is that damn Jungbyeong kid laughing in a creepy way again!”

“Hey, who said anything about being crazy? Oni isn’t some psycho who kills people for no reason like you.”

“Oh right, this brat Kkotjebe was just into showing off without knowing others’ circumstances, wasn’t it? I must have completely forgotten because of my thick skull!”

“You know well, you fool. And my name is not Kkotjebe, it’s Mingeun. If you’re so ignorant that you can’t even remember that one thing, please don’t act clueless.”

“Aren’t you the one who looks like an orphan?”

“What, are you introducing yourself?”

Ah, it’s not a split but just a mess.

Even though Jin hadn’t done anything yet, it was already dark in front of his eyes. I’m someone who gets tongue-tied just by looking at people’s faces, so mediating that fight was impossible… A group of film rolls with teeth were slowly approaching. It was the worst.

“……”

“Jin, wait, just a moment…!”

“Hurry up and kill those things, finish reading the picture book. The Mud Wolf and Friends in the Forest… I wonder what happened to them.”

“fbwls.”

“fbwlsdlek.”

“so friend?”

“Yes, yes. skf tlfgdjgo. dlwp friend, dksldi. dkslf rjdi.”

“Grr…!?”

It was a moment when ash-colored noise seemed to fill the field of vision.

The sobbing film rolls, wrapped in film around their bodies, all jumped up, turning swiftly along the blade lodged in their heads.

“zkgkr…… dkr…?”

“Ha….”

“rkfkfkdmfmr!?”

─And as such, the blades stuck in their heads split them in half and scattered on the ground.

Of course, there was no time to rest. Without lowering the raised foot, they immediately lifted their foot. The claws of the one they had just struck down were blocked by the shoe. They took a moment to catch their breath. They stared straight at the target in front of them. Growling, they tried to hold back Jin rushing towards them as much as possible. The last part was the most difficult.

“Tzurna…….”

“Why, skfmf, go…?”

They quickly withdrew the raised foot.

Due to the loss of balance, their opponent’s claw got stuck in the wrong ground. All that was left was their vulnerable body. In that gap, they grabbed Jin’s hand and turned their body. Like dancing, they spun around and placed Jin behind them. Then, using the recoil, they put all their strength into their legs.

All that was left was to shout loudly.

Although it may seem unnecessary… Luna Nuna, who taught them this technique, said that if they didn’t do it, even walking would shatter the ground. It was a reasonable statement. It wasn’t about showing off. It was a hint to share the happiness they wanted to protect and the tragedy they wanted to break.

Conscious of that learning, they stared at the film rolls with only one eye left. They glared. Conflagration. Underground. Captivity. Death. Collapse of life. Extinction of existence. All those memories through experience. Hardened experiences through senses. Gathering engraved sensations into instinct.

“Lukaahhh!!!”

“Zmhadkdkdmdmada!?!?”

They swept away the film rolls in front of them.

Unlike when they tried to save the metaphorical story earlier, the direct hit film roll exploded like a bomb. The sensation of bones breaking, flesh mashing, and organs bursting flowed down their spine. The opponent who conveyed that had already disappeared without a trace.

The few film rolls following suit couldn’t withstand the shock and rolled around wildly.

If it were Luna Nuna, she would have handled everything in one blow… I was indeed clumsy in various ways. If it weren’t for this situation, I would have probably been stuck in self-reflection and missed the excitement.

“Ha… Ha… Ouch, ouch, ouch!?”

“…It’s dizzying. What’s going on suddenly? You surprised me.”

“Still, you didn’t let go of my hand, did you? This time. As promised.”

“Yeah. So, just a little pinch this time.”

“Hooray….”

Awkwardly smiling, he made a V sign with his remaining hand.

Even the compassionate Jin seemed to appreciate my sincere reflection as she raised her finger. No matter how much of a monster it was, the opponent resembled a human. Indeed, there was no reproach towards him. It was a somewhat complicated feeling. But the others wouldn’t be any different. Having witnessed all this, they must be terrified by now…

“Wow… That was amazing…!”

“…Huh?”

“Ah, what was that just now…?”

“What do you mean, what was that! You went ‘kuqua’ and then ‘kwaak,’ and poof, it flew away! Absolutely fantastic! I never knew you were so cool, always acting tough but now you’re totally awesome!”

“Um, so… um… did you… save me from the… danger?”

Something about their reactions felt completely different from what I had expected.

The girl who had been sitting in the wheelchair, Oni, returned to her expressionless state. The boy named Mingun blushed up to his cheeks, clearly pleased, while Eunyugi, for some reason, asked cautiously with a pale face that seemed like someone else’s.

It was a bit bewildering.

Jin might not care about what others say or think, but I did. I hadn’t built walls between myself and the world to that extent. Such pure kindness felt quite unfamiliar, especially right after having killed something.

“whzkrk I, EofuT…”

“Ahvk, dkpa, dkvk…!”

“dho skaks, skaks, skaksskaksskaksskaksskaksskaks!!”

“…When did you read picture books?”

“Um… as you can see, it looks a bit difficult, right? Besides, we need to ensure Aunt Imo’s safety… um.”

“….”

“Uh, what’s wrong? It seems like it’s getting late, right? Oh, oh! Right. We shouldn’t be too late. I’m going quickly to get permission. Yeah. Right. Jin, do you believe me?”

“If we don’t meet, can’t we go?”

Instead of answering, I nodded vigorously, doing my best to convey my agreement.

If I missed Jin’s hesitation now, there would be no second chance. Once permission was granted, I could just kill off the remaining film rolls. If the kids liked it rather than being afraid, there was no reason to hesitate anymore.

Whether the entity was human or not, if it was a living being, I could kill it as much as I wanted.

Cut off limbs, split bellies, rummage through organs, break bones, pierce eyes, dissect brains, tear heads apart, pull out spines until they turned into a pulp, kick and stomp until they stopped moving. I know. So, no problem. Let’s kill them all. Kill and devour them, leaving not a single scrap of flesh behind, then hold hands with Jin, return home, clean up, read an enjoyable picture book together, not fear the shadows of the night, embrace each other’s soft skin in warm blankets, enjoy happiness, share love, kiss, and become one…

“Got it. Just for a very short while. We can’t be late, absolutely.”

“…Huh? Uh, uh-oh!?”

“Let’s go.”

“But the film rolls are still… huh?”

It was precisely at that moment when Jin, with a clear expression of reluctance, grabbed my hand.

It wasn’t just me. The other kids behind me also reacted with surprise. It wasn’t a mere misconception.

There was none. Not a single film roll that seemed ready to resist, let alone one that would rush forward screaming. There wasn’t a trace left of the creature I had killed. It was as if it had all been a daydream from the start—Sogangdan was as ordinary and cramped as ever in that room.